Kathleen K. Marks

Kathleen K. Marks is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of English and Speech at the Collins College of Professional Studies, St. John’s University. She holds a doctorate from the University of Dallas. Her research focuses on intersections of African-American literature with classical traditions, particularly Toni Morrison, Vergil’s Aeneid, and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. She teaches global literature, the epic genre, and special topics courses on mythology (e.g., Medusa), hoarding, and lyric poetry.

Dr. Marks authored the book Toni Morrison’s Beloved and the Apotropaic Imagination (2003), analyzing Morrison’s work alongside ancient Greek religious practices. Her scholarship spans classical and modern literature, including studies of Homer’s Odyssey and Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.

She leads the First-Year Seminar (FYS 1000) and ENG 1077 (Toni Morrison: Selected Novels). As a dedicated educator, she emphasizes global literary contexts and interdisciplinary approaches.