Jim Cocola

Jim Cocola is a Professor of Literature, Film, and Media at the Department of Humanities & Arts, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he has held positions since 2009. His academic career includes roles as Associate Head for the Humanities (2016–2020) and Academic Director of the Worcester Branch of The Clemente Course in the Humanities (2014–2021). He holds a PhD in English from the University of Virginia (2009) and an AB in American History and Literature from Harvard University (1998).

Dr. Cocola's research bridges geography and the humanities, focusing on modern and contemporary American literature and culture through comparative, multiethnic, and transnational lenses. His work explores cultural production by Mediterranean Americans, digital humanities, critical theory, and experimental writing. He has also contributed to film studies, media analysis, and creative writing pedagogy.

His recent publications highlight a trajectory in literary geography and poetics, including the 2016 book Places in the Making: A Cultural Geography of American Poetry. His 2024 article on Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell examines anthology practices, while 2022 works engage with African American and Mediterranean American literatures. Teaching remains central to his mission, with courses ranging from digital media to environmental literature and creative writing.

Scientific Awards include the

• Binienda Center Community Engagement Award (2018)
• Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education (2015)
• Helen Tartar First Book Subvention Prize (2015)
• MacDowell Academic Fellow (2008)

Dr. Cocola has advised student projects with institutions like the American Antiquarian Society and Worcester Art Museum, and co-organized initiatives such as the Shuster Lab for Digital Scholarship (2018) and the WPI Film Series (2013–). His work in digital humanities includes curating the Clemente Emergency Library (2020) and developing Olsoniana, a digital archive for Charles Olson studies.