Jeffrey Louis Decker

Jeffrey Louis Decker is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of English, University of California, Los Angeles. He holds a PhD in American Studies from Brown University (1990) and specializes in interdisciplinary research spanning literature, history, and cultural studies.

• Education: PhD in American Studies, Brown University (1990)

Research Interests: Decker's work focuses on Modern and Contemporary American Literature, 20th Century US Urban History, Ethnic Studies, Italian American Studies, Film and Television Studies, and Creative Nonfiction. His scholarship explores intersections of identity, media representation, and sociocultural movements.

Selected Publications: His notable articles include analyses of racial dynamics in American culture and theoretical frameworks in American Studies. His book Rebel Girl and the Godfather (2025) examines Italian American civil rights struggles in New York City, while Made In America (1997) traces narratives of success from Horatio Alger to Oprah Winfrey.

Teaching: At UCLA, Decker teaches courses such as Introduction to American Cultures, Film and Literature: Immigrant Stories, and Interracial Dynamics in America, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to media and cultural analysis.