Jessica Williams

Jessica Williams is an Assistant Professor of English at SUNY College at Old Westbury. She holds a D.A. in English from St. John's University and an M.A. in English from Stony Brook University. Her research focuses on Multicultural American Literature, Disability Studies, and Popular Culture, with a particular interest in how media and horror genres represent marginalized identities. She has published extensively, including her book Media, Performative Identity, and the New American Freak Show (2017), which examines modern representations of disability and freakishness in film and media. Williams has presented at prestigious conferences such as the Midwest Popular Culture Association and has received awards for her scholarly work, including the Best Graduate Student Presentation Award (2013).

Her teaching spans courses like English Composition, Literature Across Cultures, and Women and Narrative. Beyond academia, her creative writing includes essays on academic identity and disability. Williams actively engages in interdisciplinary discussions, linking literature to STEM education and exploring intersections of gender, race, and disability in cultural narratives.

Her scholarly contributions highlight critical race theory, gender studies, and the evolution of freak show aesthetics in contemporary media. She advocates for inclusive pedagogical approaches and has developed innovative curricula that integrate humanities with science disciplines.