Victoria Thomas

Victoria Thomas is a Teaching Professor in the Department of English at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a PhD in English & American Literature from Washington University, completed while balancing academic pursuits with motherhood. Her career includes legal practice in England, where she specialized in public childcare law and influenced legislative changes regarding local authority responsibilities for children in care. She advises on police practices for child abuse investigations and combines law and literature in her scholarship and teaching.

Education

• PhD in English & American Literature, Washington University

Research Focus

Victoria explores intersections between literature and legal authority, emphasizing rhetoric, argumentation, and cultural identity. Her dissertation, “Piers Plowman, legal authority and the law of subject status,” underscores her interest in textual authority. She teaches courses on Argumentation, Writing and the Law, and Exposition: Exploring Cultural Identity, while contributing to the Prison Education Project.

Awards & Recognition

• University College Faculty Teaching Award
• Invited as Commencement Speaker

Advising & Engagement

Victoria mentors students in academic voice development and legal-literary discourse. Her involvement in the Prison Education Project reflects her commitment to equitable educational access.

Labs/Teams

Active in the Prison Education Project, fostering academic engagement in underserved communities.