Sandra Tomc

Sandra Tomc is a Professor and Associate Head (Graduate) in the Department of English Language and Literatures at the University of British Columbia (Faculty of Arts). She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and a BA/MA from the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on 19th-century US literature, book history, and visual culture, with a particular emphasis on transatlantic fashion, Gothic literature, and Edgar Allan Poe. She is the author of Industry and the Creative Mind (2012) and Fashion Nation (forthcoming 2021), and co-director of documentary films such as Cool Daddy (2019) and Citizen Marc (2013). Her work has been published in journals like ELH, American Literature, and Representations.

Tomc’s current research examines copyright law and unpaid labor in 19th-century publishing, supported by a SSHRC Insight Grant. She teaches courses on 19th-century literature, Gothic studies, and film, and supervises graduate students in these areas. Her creative work includes award-winning films and immersive digital projects like Kenny’s Jazz Pad.

Awards include the Mobile Excellence Award (2019) and Leo Award nominations for her films. She contributes to academic networks, including projects on digital humanities and media studies. Her work bridges literary scholarship with filmmaking, exploring themes of nationalism, visual culture, and historical representation.