Jenny Howe

Jenny Howe, PhD is an Associate Teaching Professor in the English & Communication department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's College of Arts & Sciences. She teaches writing and literature courses with a focus on children's literature/media, the romance genre, and the representation of bodies and identity, as well as creative writing courses.

• PhD from Tufts University (2014)
• MA from Boston College (2005)
• BA from Boston College (2002)

Professor Howe's research centers on children's literature and media, the romance genre, gender and identity, and writing pedagogy. Her work bridges academic scholarship with creative practice, examining how narrative forms shape cultural understandings of identity and relationships. She approaches literature as both a scholarly subject and a creative medium, with particular interest in how genre fiction engages with contemporary social issues.

Her publications trend toward contemporary romance and young adult fiction that explores identity formation, with particular attention to body positivity, modern dating culture, and coming-of-age experiences. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on how personal relationships intersect with broader social contexts, reflecting her academic interests in gender studies and identity representation.

Professor Howe teaches ENL 101: Critical Writing & Reading I, ENL 200: Studies in Literature, and ENL 220: Reading & Writing Popular Lit, with course topics including Children's Literature, Romance, Fantasy, Horror, and Speculative Fiction.

Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and the Library Journal, and have been selected as editor's picks on Amazon and Reader's Digest, demonstrating recognition in both literary and commercial spheres.

As an educator, Professor Howe mentors students in writing and literature courses while simultaneously maintaining an active creative writing career, modeling the integration of scholarly and creative practices for her students. Her office is located in Liberal Arts 216, and she can be reached at 508-910-6548.