Jesse Lander

Jesse Lander is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, affiliated with the College of Arts and Letters. He is a Faculty Fellow at the Nanovic Institute and holds the Thomas J. and Robert T. Rolfs Associate Professorship. His research focuses on early modern English literature, particularly intersections between religion and literary culture. He has authored Inventing Polemic: Religion, Print, and Literary Culture in Early Modern England and is completing Special Affects: Staging the Supernatural in Shakespeare’s Drama.

• Education: Ph.D., Columbia University (1998); B.A., University College, Oxford (1991); B.A., Columbia College (1988)
• Teaching: Specializes in Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, and textual criticism
• Grants & Fellowships: Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship, Folger Library Fellowships, and multiple teaching awards

His research analyzes supernatural staging in plays like Hamlet and Macbeth, exploring how theater reflected Reformation-era anxieties. Recent work includes studies on Shakespeare quotation history and early modern print culture. He has edited volumes like The Book in History and co-authored Arden editions of King John.

Publications span articles in Shakespeare Survey, Renaissance Drama, and Modern Philology, focusing on topics like religious polemics, textual history, and the material book. His teaching and service include chairing the English Department (2015–2021) and advising graduate programs.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Medieval Institute and Rare Book Library on digital humanities projects. Engages in public outreach through lectures on Shakespeare’s relevance and early modern theater practices.