Jennifer Kwon Dobbs

Jennifer Kwon Dobbs is Professor of English and Race, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at St. Olaf College, where she also serves as Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary and General Studies and Director of the Individual Major Program. Born in Wonju-si, South Korea and adopted in Oklahoma, she is a first-generation college graduate with an MFA in Poetry from the University of Pittsburgh and a MA/PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Southern California.

Her research explores poetry, poetics, creative nonfiction, Asian American literature, and critical ethnic studies, with particular focus on:

• Transnational adoption and diaspora identity
• Korean War legacy and Cold War politics
• Translation studies and indigenous literature
• Race, gender and sexuality intersections

Her scholarly publications consistently examine themes of cultural memory, trauma, and identity formation across six major poetry collections. She maintains active collaborations with organizations like the Minnesota Humanities Center and serves as senior poetry editor for AGNI.

Awards and honors include:

• White Pine Press Poetry Prize (2007)
• Association of Asian American Studies Book Award
• Leif and Inger Sjöberg Translation Prize
• Daesan Foundation Grant
• Minnesota State Arts Board Grant