Susan Abbotson

Professor Susan C. W. Abbotson is a distinguished scholar of Modern and Contemporary Drama, specializing in the works of Arthur Miller. She has been a faculty member at Rhode Island College since 1999, teaching courses ranging from Drama to Children’s Literature. Her research extends beyond traditional theatre to include Film Studies, Ethnic Literatures, and 20th Century British and American Literature. She is the author of three influential books on Miller, including Modern American Drama: Playwriting in the 1950s (2019), and has contributed chapters to numerous edited volumes on American drama and playwrights.

Abbotson holds academic leadership roles, including President of the Arthur Miller Society, managing its website and social media. She has been featured in NPR's Arthur Miller Society Podcast (2020), On Point (2005), and has lectured at theaters and conferences internationally. Her editorial work includes serving as series editor for Methuen’s student editions of Miller’s plays (2022).

Her educational background includes a B.A. from Loughborough University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Bristol University, an M.A. from SUNY Brockport, and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Her scholarly contributions span journals such as the Arthur Miller Journal, Modern Drama, and Eugene O’Neill Review, with a focus on dramatists like Tennessee Williams, Sam Shepard, and Thornton Wilder.

Abbotson’s courses at Rhode Island College explore Drama, Children’s Literature, Women’s Writing, and major authors like Williams and Miller. Her recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to theatre, blending historical analysis with contemporary cultural contexts.