معرفی
William Flesch is a Professor of English at Brandeis University, where he also serves as Undergraduate Advising Head for the English Department. He earned his PhD from Cornell University and has been an influential figure in the department for many years, teaching a wide range of courses from Shakespeare to film studies.
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. from Cornell University
- M.A. from Cornell University
- B.A. from Yale University
Professor Flesch's research spans multiple disciplines, focusing on the intersection of literature with cognitive science, philosophy, and evolutionary psychology. His work explores how literary experience can inform our understanding of human cognition and emotion. He has particular expertise in Renaissance literature, especially Shakespeare, Herbert, and Milton, as well as 20th-century comparative literature, Henry James, and Freudian psychoanalysis. His approach often combines close reading with theoretical frameworks to examine how literature shapes and reflects human experience across different media, including film and poetry.
His scholarly contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and fellowships, highlighting his excellence in both research and teaching.
- Henry Strong Prize for best essay on American Literature, Yale University (1978)
- Martin Sampson Teaching Award, Cornell University (1984)
- Michael L. Walzer Award for Excellence in Teaching, Brandeis University (1988-1989)
- Marver & Sheva Bernstein Faculty Fellowship, Brandeis University (1989-1990)
- Fellowship, National Endowment for the Humanities (1992-1993)
- Lerman-Neubauer Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring, Brandeis University (2003)
- International Chair Professor, National Taipei University of Technology (2012)
- Old Dominion Fellow of the Humanities Council, Princeton University (2014-2015)
Professor Flesch is deeply committed to undergraduate education, having received multiple teaching awards throughout his career. He serves as Undergraduate Advising Head for the English Department and has developed innovative courses that bridge disciplines, such as his "Thinking About Infinity" class that combines mathematics, philosophy, and literature. His approach to teaching emphasizes the value of digression in humanities education, believing that the connections students make across disciplines are as important as the specific content of any single course. He has also been affiliated with several interdisciplinary programs at Brandeis, including the Master of Arts Program in Comparative Humanities, the Interdepartmental Program in Comparative Literature and Culture, the Interdepartmental Program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and the Department of Philosophy.
