Peter Ingrao

Peter Ingrao is an Associate Professor of Instruction in Literary Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), affiliated with the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. He holds a Ph.D. in Humanities (2004) from UTD, an M.A. in English (1998) from North Carolina State University, and a B.A. in English (1996) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

His research focuses on American Southern literature, particularly Appalachian narratives, the trope of monstrosity, and intersections between humanities and sciences. He explores themes like utopia/dystopia, heroic archetypes, and swamp ecologies as sites of cultural resistance. His teaching includes 20th-century American literature, science fiction, and southern literary traditions.

Dr. Ingrao has presented widely at conferences such as ALA, SAMLA, and Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha, emphasizing Southern Gothic and cultural critiques. He has authored works on Larry Brown, Faulkner, and zombie narratives, and edited collections on superhero cinema. He is a recipient of the 2018 Regents’ and Victor Worsfold Teaching Awards.

At UTD, he serves on the Committee on Effective Teaching and has advised numerous university initiatives, including events on vampire culture and dystopian narratives. His current projects include a Routledge Companion entry on Grit Lit and a Lever Press collection on superhero representations.