Nicole Marie Rizzuto

Nicole Marie Rizzuto, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Professor of History & Political Science at Saint Xavier University. She holds a Ph.D. in History and Culture from Drew University (2022) and a B.A. in History from Saint Elizabeth University. Her research focuses on LGBTQ+ history, particularly the impact of fictional tropes like Dead Lesbian Syndrome on queer identities, censorship, and diaspora studies.

• Education: Ph.D., Drew University; B.A., Saint Elizabeth University
• Affiliations: Development Manager at Point Foundation; previously taught at Hudson County Community College and New Jersey City University

Her work critically examines how literary and cultural narratives shape societal perceptions of marginalized groups, with a focus on anglophone lesbian subcultures and early 20th-century American history. Key projects include analyzing the prevalence of fatal endings for queer characters in pre-1950 literature and exploring feminist bookstore movements as spaces of antiracist solidarity.

Rizzuto’s publications include encyclopedia entries on women’s historical contributions and a groundbreaking dissertation on Dead Lesbian Syndrome. She has presented at conferences such as the Northeast Modern Language Association and the Midwest Conference on British Studies.