Mary-Catherine Harrison

Mary-Catherine Harrison serves as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of English at the University of Detroit Mercy, within the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in English from Rutgers University. Her research focuses on 19th-century British literature, narrative theory, and the psychology of reading, emphasizing empathy across social divides and Victorian social reform.

Harrison leads Rx for Reading Detroit, a nonprofit expanding children’s literacy access in Detroit and surrounding areas. She has held leadership roles, including past president of the Midwest Victorian Studies Association and director of University Honors and Academic Exploration programs. Her awards include the Agere ex Missione Award (2012), Faculty Achievement Award (2013), and the 2016 Bookwoman Award.

In teaching and service, she has designed courses on Victorian literature, genre studies, and community literacy. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to education and social justice.