Ileana Alexandra Orlich

Ileana Alexandra Orlich is a distinguished academic holding the title of President’s Professor at Arizona State University (ASU), with affiliations spanning the School of International Letters and Cultures (SILC), the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. She also serves as an affiliated faculty member in English and the Melikian Center. Her roles include directing the Global Intensive Experience to Romania and chairing the Consular Corps of Arizona’s Scholarship Committee. Orlich is an Honorary Consul General of Romania in Arizona.

Education: She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from ASU, and a Diploma de Licenţa in English and Romanian Studies from the University of Bucharest.

Research Interests: Orlich specializes in Romanian and comparative literature, with a focus on theater in post-communist contexts, gender studies, and cultural politics. Her work explores themes like nationalism, political oppression, and the role of literature in transitional societies. She has published extensively on authors such as Mihail Sadoveanu, Herta Müller, and Gelu Naum.

Recent Articles and Themes: Her scholarship addresses topics such as Dadaist political installations, Soviet theater aesthetics, and feminist critiques of Eastern European literature. Notable themes include the interplay between art and totalitarianism, gender in post-communist narratives, and cross-cultural translation challenges.

• Awards: ASU Professor of the Year (2011), Centennial Professor (2001), Meritul Cultural al României (twice), and multiple Fulbright grants.
• Grants: Projects include collaborations with the Romanian Cultural Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, and international universities in Romania, China, and Hungary.

Advising and Mentorship: While no student names are listed, her academic leadership and international partnerships reflect a commitment to fostering interdisciplinary and global scholarship.

Labs/Teams: She leads initiatives like the Global Intensive Experience to Romania and co-organizes theater productions and academic conferences with institutions in Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, and beyond.