Mary Adams

Mary Adams is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a BA from Smith College, MFA from University of Iowa, and PhD from University of Houston. Her research explores connections between emotion, sound, and rhetorical expression in Shakespeare and early modern literature.

Research interests focus on affective dimensions of literary interpretation, particularly how early modern writers conceptualized emotion through auditory experiences and rhetorical devices. Her work bridges literary analysis with cognitive studies of emotion.

Publications demonstrate consistent focus on poetic expression across historical periods, from contemporary verse to Miltonic scholarship. Recent works explore ecological themes through scientific metaphors, while early scholarship examined gender dynamics in canonical texts.

Awards include a prestigious National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and recognition for teaching excellence. She contributes to community service through leadership at the Humane Society of Jackson County.