Kelly Richardson

Dr. Kelly Richardson is Professor of English and Director of Composition at Winthrop University, holding the Margaret M. Bryant Endowed Professorship. Her research specializes in 19th-century American literature, with emphasis on oceanic settings in literary works by authors including Herman Melville, Mark Twain, and Celia Thaxter.

She earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and both M.A. and B.A. from Winthrop University. Current book projects examine how maritime environments influence narrative construction and character development in 19th-century literature, reflecting historical and cultural contexts.

Teaching encompasses composition pedagogy and American literary traditions. Recent publications include contributions to Cambridge University Press volumes on Herman Melville and Mark Twain, analyzing literary representations of oceanic spaces and their cultural significance.