معرفی
Heather Joseph-Witham is an Associate Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department at Otis College of Art and Design, where she has worked since 1998. She is a folklorist specializing in fairy tales, myths, and supernatural narratives, with a focus on cultural rituals and pop culture intersections.
Education:
- B.A. in Political Science, UCLA
- M.A. and Ph.D. in Folklore and Mythology, UCLA (1998)
Her research spans the macabre, paranormal, Victorian aesthetics, and Disneyesque themes, reflected in courses like Vampire Literature and Lore, UFOs and Aliens, and Witchcraft in Religion and Society. She has contributed to podcast and television commentary on supernatural stories and cultural symbolism.
Scientific Awards:
- Otis Faculty Development Grants (Fall 2016, Spring 2013, Fall 2009, Fall 2007, 2004-05)
- OARS Faculty Research Grant (2015-16)
- Otis TLC Technology Grant (2007)
Heather founded the Otis Storytelling Festival, which ran for five years, and has published works including Star Trek Fans and Costume Art, an early study of cosplay as art. She is currently completing a biography, The Vampyre Sebastiaan, and a Festschrift edition for Western Folklore, both due in 2024.
