Laurence Roth

Laurence Roth is the Charles B. Degenstein Professor of English and Director of Jewish Studies at Susquehanna University, where he has taught since his appointment. His office's six bookshelves—filled with volumes from cities like Berkeley, London, and Tel-Aviv—reflect his lifelong engagement with Jewish literature, contemporary American literature, and popular writing. He founded Susquehanna's Jewish and Israel Studies and Publishing & Editing programs, blending his father's bookstore legacy with academic rigor.

• PhD, University of California Los Angeles
• MA, University of California Los Angeles
• BA, University of California Berkeley

Roth's research explores intersections of Jewish identity with popular culture, particularly through comic books/graphic novels and cookbook literature. His editorial work includes leading Modern Language Studies and contributing to the Cambridge History of Jewish American Literature. His publications examine topics like:

• Jewish detective fiction's cultural significance
• Orthodox comic book innovation
• Cookbooks as markers of ethnic identity
• Kashrut practices in modern media
• Jewish superhero narratives
• Academic publishing ethics

Scientific awards highlight his interdisciplinary excellence:

• Charles W. and Sally Rothfeld Fellowship (2004)
• John C. Horn Lectureship (2005)
• Frankel Center Fellowship (2013)
• International editorial award finalist (2005)

Roth also co-founded the New Media in Jewish Studies Collaborative, served on MLA committees, and plays in a faculty band, demonstrating his belief in literature as a communal connector.