Jeffrey Bilbro

Jeffrey Bilbro is a faculty member at Spring Arbor University specializing in American literature with a focus on ecological ethics and the intersection of Christian theology with environmental thought. His scholarly work examines how American writers from Puritan times to contemporary authors like Wendell Berry have conceptualized humanity's relationship with the natural world.

Dr. Bilbro's research interests include:

• American literature, particularly 19th and 20th century works
• Eco-theology and Christian environmental ethics
• Wendell Berry studies and agrarian philosophy
• Thoreau and transcendentalist literature
• Puritan literary traditions and their ecological implications
• The relationship between literature, place, and community

His publications demonstrate consistent interdisciplinary scholarship bridging literary studies, environmental thought, and theological inquiry. Bilbro's book "Loving God's Wildness" traces how Puritan theology shaped American writers' environmental consciousness. His work often examines how literary form itself can enact ecological thinking, as seen in his analysis of memory in Wendell Berry's fiction.

Notably, Bilbro has engaged with international contexts through his work teaching Thoreau in China, exploring cross-cultural applications of American environmental thought. His scholarship consistently argues for the importance of local knowledge, community connection, and ecological responsibility as essential components of meaningful educational experiences and cultural renewal.