James Donelan

James Donelan is a Senior Continuing Lecturer in the Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), with appointments in the Department of English and the College of Creative Studies - Writing & Literature. He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University (1985 and 1993, respectively). His academic work focuses on Romanticism, literature and music, German Romanticism, composition pedagogy, and legal writing.

Dr. Donelan has taught extensively across disciplines, including Writing for the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Legal Profession, as well as courses on British Romantic Writers, Science Fiction, and European Literature. His research explores intersections between literature, music, and philosophy, notably in his book *Poetry and the Romantic Musical Aesthetic* (Cambridge University Press, 2008). He has been nominated multiple times for the UCSB Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999–2002) and holds fellowships such as the NEH Summer Seminar and DAAD Fellowship.

Donelan has contributed to academic discourse through publications on digital pedagogy, intellectual property in academia, and interdisciplinary approaches to Romantic studies. His service roles include Co-Director of the UC WRITE Institute and leadership in UCSB’s Faculty Professional Development Council. His teaching emphasizes critical writing across disciplines, reflecting his commitment to composition studies and humanities education.