Scott Paul Gordon

Scott Paul Gordon is Professor and Andrew W. Mellon Chair in the Department of English at Lehigh University, where he has taught since 1995. He has held significant administrative roles including Chair of the English Department (2011-2016), Chair of the History Department (2018-2019), Director of the First-Year Writing Program (2003-2006), and Director of the Lehigh University Press (2006-2011).

Education:

• PhD, Harvard University, 1993

Gordon's scholarship centers on 18th-19th century transatlantic literature and colonial/postcolonial history, with groundbreaking work in Moravian studies, slavery in early America, and women's writing. His research integrates archival recovery, critical race theory, and religious history to examine power structures in colonial Pennsylvania. Notable projects include editing Mary Penry's correspondence and analyzing Moravian communities' engagement with slavery.

His 15 most recent publications reveal a methodological shift toward archival material analysis and critical race perspectives, with increasing focus on marginalized voices in Moravian settlements. The work demonstrates deep engagement with Pennsylvania's colonial history while contributing to broader fields of transatlantic studies and early American religious communities.

Academic honors include:

• Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2002)
• Class of 1961 Professor (2002-2004)

Gordon's leadership in academic service—particularly through directing the university press and writing programs—demonstrates commitment to scholarly communication. His graduate and undergraduate courses like Indigenous Voices in the Transatlantic Eighteenth Century and Slavery, Captivity, and the Archive directly reflect his research priorities, creating pathways for student engagement with primary sources and critical methodologies.