Jess Hamlet

Jess Hamlet is Assistant Professor of English in the Department of English at Alvernia University’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences in Reading, PA. She teaches a range of courses including Shakespeare and true crime, and is deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and critical race discourse in literary education.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies
• MLitt in Shakespeare & Performance
• MFA in Shakespeare & Performance

Her research centers on early modern drama, particularly Shakespeare’s works and their racialized afterlives. She investigates how Shakespeare has been used to construct and maintain white supremacist ideologies and class hierarchies, especially in adaptations from 1601 to 1888. Her work bridges literary scholarship with public humanities, aiming to deconstruct systemic inequities through pedagogy and critical analysis. She co-hosts the podcast The Hurly Burly Shakespeare Show!, extending her scholarship to broader audiences.

Her publications appear in The Journal of the Wooden O, The CEA Critic, and edited volumes from Palgrave, Routledge, and Arden. Her award-winning dissertation, Shakespeare, Race, and Adaptation in Times of Unrest, 1601–1888, is the foundation for her forthcoming book Shakespeare as Paratext to Power.

Scientific Awards:

• University of Alabama 2021 Outstanding Dissertation Award (English Department Level)
• University of Alabama 2021 Outstanding Dissertation Award (College of Arts and Sciences Level)

Jess Hamlet is recognized for her innovative teaching that fosters safe, reflective classroom environments where students engage with race, whiteness, and privilege through literature. She emphasizes modeling productive discomfort and encourages students to learn from mistakes in pursuit of a more just society. While no specific grants or student advisees are mentioned, her impact on students and curriculum is evident through testimonials and institutional recognition.

She is actively involved in public scholarship and continues to develop her research on Shakespeare’s role in systemic inequality, with plans to further teach and publish in this vital area.