Lori Leavell

Lori Leavell is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas's School of Language and Literature. She holds a Ph.D. from Emory University and specializes in 19th-century African American literature, focusing on material histories of texts and print culture. Her research examines how literary works circulate and influence societal discourse through analysis of authors like David Walker and Henry Highland Garnet.

• Education: Ph.D., English, Emory University

Leavell explores questions about textual production, distribution, and reader engagement, particularly in antebellum contexts. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis with historical materialism, investigating how printed works shaped abolitionist movements and Southern identity. She frequently teaches courses on American literature surveys, interdisciplinary writing, and African/African American Studies.

Her articles in Callaloo, Book History, and Critical Insights: Frederick Douglass reflect this focus. Though no specific awards are noted, her work demonstrates sustained engagement with underrepresented literary histories. Leavell advises students through graduate research methods courses but no specific advisee names appear in the text.

Her research narrative emphasizes textual materiality and cultural impact, with grants or labs not explicitly mentioned. Teaching and scholarly writing remain central to her professional profile.