Maria O'Connell

Dr. Maria O'Connell is a Professor of English in the School of Languages and Literature at Wayland Baptist University, located in Plainview, Texas. She specializes in American and World Literature, with a focus on interdisciplinary research areas including social systems theory, gender studies, translation studies, and ecofeminism. Her work explores social constructions of persons and environment in Western/Southwestern American literature.

Her recent projects include analyzing mothers as heroes in weird literature and examining feminist approaches in sci-fi. Notable publications include Breaking Borders and Breaking Bad (2016) and Of Judges and Fairybook Beasts (2016). Current research investigates feminist reinterpretations of women’s roles through weird science fiction.

Dr. O’Connell’s academic interests span Cormac McCarthy’s exploration of nature and violence, translation theory, and the intersection of gender with environmental narratives. She teaches at all levels, from freshman to graduate courses, emphasizing interdisciplinary perspectives. Her work bridges literary analysis with ecological, social, and gender-based frameworks.