Katharine Jensen

Katharine (Kate) Jensen is a Professor of French Studies at Louisiana State University (LSU), holding the Florence Kidd and Isaac M. Gregorie, Sr. endowed chair. She specializes in 17th/18th-century French literature, feminist theory, and mother-daughter dynamics. Her academic career includes extensive research, teaching, and leadership roles within LSU’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Educated at Lawrence University (B.A., French, 1979) and Columbia University (M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., French, 1983–1988), Jensen has received numerous accolades, including the LSU Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award (2000) and multiple Manship Summer Fellowships. Her work bridges literary analysis with interdisciplinary feminist scholarship, focusing on epistolary writing and first-person narratives.

Research interests emphasize women’s authorship, maternal relationships, and the evolution of French literary traditions. Her publications include Writing Ambition: Literary Engagements Between Women in France (2023) and Uneasy Possessions: The Mother-Daughter Dilemma in French Women's Writings (2011). She actively participates in LSU’s Center for French & Francophone Studies, contributing to academic conferences and editorial projects.

Award-winning educator, Jensen teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on French literature, feminist theory, and interdisciplinary humanities. Her grants and fellowships reflect sustained commitment to advancing scholarship in French studies and gender studies.