معرفی
Simone A. James Alexander is Professor of English and Director of Africana Studies at Lehigh University. A native of Guyana, she previously held positions at Seton Hall University where she served as Chair and Director of Africana Studies, and at Pratt Institute as her first tenure-track position. Her academic journey began with a scholarship to study in Moscow, Russia, followed by graduate studies at Rutgers University.
- Ph.D., Comparative Literature, Rutgers University
- M.A., Comparative Literature, Rutgers University
- M.A. & B.A, Philology, Universitet Druzby Narodof, Moscow
Professor Alexander's research spans Colonial and Postcolonial Studies, Critical Race Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Caribbean and Black Diaspora Studies. Her work particularly focuses on transnational feminist theories, Indo-Caribbean literature, and Afro-Russian studies, examining how race, gender, and diaspora intersect in literary and cultural production.
Her publications reveal a consistent focus on Caribbean women's narratives, with particular attention to Edwidge Danticat, Jamaica Kincaid, and other Caribbean authors. The scholarship demonstrates an evolving trajectory from examining motherhood and national identity to exploring diasporic subjectivities, transnational feminism, and Afro-Russian experiences. Recent works increasingly engage with spatial theory, embodiment, and the politics of representation across multiple diasporic contexts.
- Honorable Mention by the African Literature Association Book of the Year Scholarship Award
As Director of Africana Studies and a dedicated educator, Professor Alexander teaches courses including Contemporary Black British Literature, Im/Migrant Narratives, and graduate seminars on Motherhood and Mourning. Her teaching philosophy integrates critical race theory, feminist perspectives, and diasporic frameworks to examine literature and culture through multiple intersecting lenses. She has contributed significantly to developing Africana Studies curriculum that centers Black intellectual traditions while acknowledging global connections.
Professor Alexander maintains active research collaborations across institutions and has established herself as a leading voice in Caribbean literary studies, particularly regarding women's narratives and diasporic experiences. Her current projects continue to push boundaries by examining Black freedom in Communist Russia and editing The Cambridge Companion to Colson Whitehead.
