Christopher Krentz serves as Professor in the English and American Sign Language Program at the University of Virginia, maintaining active teaching duties with courses in American literature, disability studies, and world anglophone literature. His office is located in Bryan Hall 110, with current office hours held in person and via Zoom. Education: Ph.D. in English, University of Virginia, 2002 M.A. in English, University of Virginia, 1995 B.A. in English, Yale University, 1989 Professor Krentz's research fundamentally explores intersections between Disability Studies and Deaf Studies within American and Postcolonial Literature frameworks. He examines how disability, particularly deafness, manifests in literary representation, human rights discourse, and cultural identity formation. His scholarship consistently bridges literary analysis with social justice advocacy, emphasizing decolonization perspectives and the cultural enrichment derived from Deaf experiences. His 22-year publication trajectory reveals evolving scholarly focus: early work established foundations in 19th-century American Deaf literature, while recent contributions address postcolonial disability, blindness representation, and institutional decolonization of literary studies. Key thematic threads include the 'hearing line' concept, Deaf gain philosophy, and disability human rights frameworks across global anglophone contexts, with notable analyses of authors like Coetzee, Twain, and Borges. Awards and Honors: Finalist, 1998 Seven Society Graduate Fellowship for Superb Teaching, University of Virginia Professor Krentz has demonstrated significant academic leadership through co-directing UVA's Disability Studies Initiative (2015-2022) and coordinating the Annual ASL/Deaf Culture Lecture Series for nearly two decades. His editorial board service for Sign Language Studies and Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies reflects sustained commitment to scholarly discourse, though specific student advising details and grant histories remain unpublicized in available materials. Through initiatives like the Disability Studies Initiative and ASL Lecture Series, Krentz has cultivated interdisciplinary academic communities examining disability rights, Deaf culture, and language politics. His collaborative work with scholars like Rebecca Sanchez on representation matters demonstrates ongoing engagement with contemporary theoretical debates in disability humanities.
