Vincent J. Cheng is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Utah, holding appointments since July 2019. He previously served at the University of Southern California (1979–2019) in roles including Professor of English and Director of Asian American Studies. His academic leadership includes directing the Tanner Humanities Center (2003–2007). Cheng specializes in modernist literature, particularly James Joyce, with research focusing on cultural memory, national identity, and postcolonial studies. He has authored influential works like Amnesia and the Nation and edited volumes on Joyce’s legacy. Recognized for teaching excellence, he received the Calvin S. and JeNeal Hatch Prize in Teaching (2024) and the Distinguished Teaching Award (2014). Cheng’s research integrates philosophy, history, and literature, exploring themes like migration, empathy, and ethical remembrance. His recent work analyzes Joyce’s treatment of memory and history, connecting Irish and American Southern narratives. He also contributes to Joyce Studies Annual and serves on editorial boards for Western Humanities Review . Teaching-wise, he leads advanced seminars on literary studies and British writers, guiding Ph.D. thesis research. Award highlights include the Fulbright Scholar Award (2015) and the Carole & Gordon Segal Visiting Chair in Irish Studies (2014). He remains active in community outreach, such as presenting Joyce’s Dubliners to high school students. His interdisciplinary approach bridges literary analysis with cultural and ethical inquiry.
Emily C. Bartels is a Professor of English at Rutgers University specializing in early modern literature and culture, with particular expertise in Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean drama. She has served as director, and is now dean, of the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English since 2010, a summer Master's program designed for K-12 English teachers. Professor Bartels received her BA from Yale University and both her MA and PhD from Harvard University. Her academic background positioned her to become a leading scholar in Renaissance literature studies. Her research examines questions of race, cross-cultural relations, gender, genre, and performance in early modern English drama. Professor Bartels is renowned for her groundbreaking work on Shakespeare's Othello and Christopher Marlowe's plays, analyzing how these texts represent cultural and racial difference. She has significantly contributed to postcolonial approaches to early modern literature, revealing how English drama engaged with global encounters and representations of the 'other' during the Renaissance period. Her scholarship demonstrates how early modern writers both reflected and shaped contemporary attitudes toward difference, particularly regarding race, religion, and national identity. Professor Bartels' publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory examining racial and cultural representation in early modern England. Her work spans from detailed analyses of specific plays like Hamlet and Julius Caesar to broader studies of how England conceptualized Africa and non-Christian cultures during the Renaissance. A recurring theme throughout her career is the analysis of how early English drama both reflected and shaped contemporary attitudes toward difference, particularly regarding race, religion, and national identity. Roma Gill Prize for Best Work on Christopher Marlowe (1993-94) for Spectacles of Strangeness: Imperialism, Alienation, and Marlowe Board of Trustees Fellowship for Scholarly Excellence (1993) School of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Contributors to Undergraduate Education (2008 & 1993) Warren I. Susman Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008) Solmsen Fellowship at the Institute of Research in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin (1995) Black Atlantic Project fellowship from the Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis Professor Bartels has demonstrated exceptional commitment to both research and teaching excellence. She has developed innovative courses exploring the intersections of literature, history, and cultural studies, including undergraduate seminars on Othello and Hamlet, and graduate courses on Shakespeare Page and Stage. Her administrative role as dean of the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English demonstrates her commitment to education beyond traditional university settings. Her fellowships from prestigious institutions indicate successful grant acquisition throughout her distinguished career. Professor Bartels has been actively involved with the Shakespeare Association of America and has collaborated with international scholars like Emma Smith of the University of Oxford. Her work has positioned her at the forefront of conversations about early modern literature, race studies, and postcolonial approaches to Renaissance drama, influencing how scholars understand the intersections of literature, race, and cultural identity in the early modern period.
Laurie Shannon is the Franklyn Bliss Snyder Professor of English at Northwestern University, with a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. She studies English literature and culture in the long sixteenth century, focusing on the history of ideas in language, stakeholdership, embodiment, and cross-species relations. She serves as convener of The Anne Lister Society and is collaborating with Oxford University Press on a scholarly edition of Anne Lister’s Journal. Education: J.D., Harvard Law School; Ph.D., University of Chicago Shannon’s research explores the political imagination in early modern literature, particularly through friendship (Sovereign Amity: Figures of Friendship in Shakespearean Contexts) and animal studies (The Accommodated Animal: Cosmopolity in Shakespearean Locales). Her current monograph, 'Frailty’s Name: Shakespeare and the Natural History of Human Being,' examines human negative exceptionalism in Renaissance thought and its implications for climate crisis ethics. Her publications span Shakespeare studies, queer theory, environmental humanities, and textual editing. Notable awards include the Elizabeth Dietz Memorial Award, Robert B. Cox Teaching Award, and Dean’s Award for Graduate Mentoring. She has held NEH, ACLS, and Guggenheim fellowships. Scientific Awards: Elizabeth Dietz Memorial Award, Robert B. Cox Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, Dean's Award for Graduate Mentoring, NEH Fellowship, ACLS Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship Shannon contributes to the Anne Lister Diary Transcription Project and has served as English Department Chair at Northwestern. Her recent articles focus on Shakespeare’s engagement with natural history, queer cosmology, and animal sovereignty, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach.
Lynn S. Meskill is a Professor at Toulouse Jean-Jaurès University, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). Her academic work bridges literature, history of ideas, and translation, with a strong focus on early modern British culture. She teaches Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Translation. Her research interests include: 16th and 17th Century Theatre Stuart and Caroline Court Masque History of the Book History of Ideas Translation Studies Authorship in Early Modernity Ben Jonson and Shakespearean Drama Her publications reveal a deep engagement with themes of authorship, fame, religious symbolism, and cultural representation in Renaissance literature. She frequently explores the intersections of performance, politics, and print culture, particularly in court masques and tragedies. Her work often combines literary analysis with intellectual and cultural history. Her scholarly contributions include a monograph on Ben Jonson and numerous articles in leading journals such as Huntington Library Quarterly and English Studies . She has also contributed chapters to authoritative handbooks and translated significant works in print culture. She has supervised doctoral research and holds an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches), qualifying her to direct research in France. While no specific grants are listed, her involvement in structured research axes at CAS suggests active participation in collaborative projects. Lynn S. Meskill is a core member of the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS), contributing to its seminars, research programs (such as AXIS 1–3), and academic events. The center fosters interdisciplinary research in Anglophone cultures, and she plays a vital role in its scholarly community.
Andrew J Fleck is an Associate Professor in the English and Comparative Literature Department at San José State University, affiliated with the College of Humanities and the Arts. He has been teaching since 2001, specializing in Early Modern British Literature with a focus on Dutch-English cultural relations between 1588-1688. Fleck holds a PhD from Claremont Graduate University (2000). His research explores how Dutch figures influenced English literary and cultural imagination, including studies on John Donne, Thomas Nashe, and early modern drama. He has published widely in journals like Studies in Philology and Journal of British Studies , with a particular emphasis on textual analysis, historical narratives, and cross-cultural exchanges. Fleck’s work spans from examining the role of Dutch language performances in early modern theater to analyzing the representation of national identity in texts like The Shoemaker’s Holiday . His recent publications (2013) include studies on John Donne’s engagement with astronomical themes and global adaptations of Macbeth . He maintains an active presence in academic encyclopedias, contributing entries on Milton’s Dutch connections and Renaissance authors. His scholarship bridges literary analysis with historical context, often highlighting how literature reflects political, religious, and cultural tensions of the period. Fleck’s teaching and research reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, integrating historical, linguistic, and cultural methodologies.
Dr. Hester Lees-Jeffries is a University Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St Catharine's College, where she serves as Director of Studies in English. She earned her BA and MA (Hons.) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, before completing her PhD at Cambridge as a Commonwealth Scholar. Her academic career includes a Research Fellowship at Magdalene College (2003-2006) and ongoing fellowship at St Catharine's since 2006. Her research focuses on Shakespeare and early modern literature, with particular expertise in performance studies, visual culture, and material textuality. She investigates topics including Renaissance textiles, costume semiotics, garden symbolism, and material objects in literature. Her interdisciplinary approach connects literary analysis with cultural history and performance theory. Lees-Jeffries maintains an active publication record with scholarly works spanning Shakespearean criticism, material culture studies, and Renaissance literature. Her research demonstrates consistent focus on textual materiality, performance interpretation, and interdisciplinary methodologies bridging literary analysis with visual and material culture. Her forthcoming publications include monographs on textile symbolism in Shakespeare and an introduction to Shakespeare's histories. Honors and Awards: Commonwealth Scholarship Research Fellowship, Magdalene College (2003-2006) Fellowship, St Catharine's College (since 2006) She coordinates exhibitions for the Centre for Material Texts and regularly contributes to Shakespeare Survey as London theater reviewer. Her innovative #SlowShakespeare projects provide daily literary analysis of Shakespeare's plays through social media platforms.
Professor Catherine Richardson serves as Professor of Early Modern Studies and Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Kent. She joined the university in 2007 from The Shakespeare Institute and has held significant leadership positions including Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (Humanities) (2017-20), Deputy Head of School of English (2014-7), and Director of Research for the School of English (2012-7). Her research centers on the relationship between texts and material circumstances of production and consumption in early modern England, with particular focus on how material culture shaped social and cultural practices. Richardson examines the birth of creative industries in drama and performance cultures, skilled craft practices influenced by international migration patterns, and the evolution of cultural practices from the sixteenth century to present. She currently leads the AHRC-funded project 'The Cultural Lives of the Middling Sort, writing and material culture 1560-1660' in collaboration with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Weald and Downland Living Museum. Richardson's extensive publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with material culture studies, with recent works increasingly incorporating digital humanities approaches. Her scholarship spans monographs, edited collections, and numerous journal articles examining domestic life, object biographies, and the intersection of physical artifacts with cultural narratives in early modern England. Her notable recognitions include: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2018) AHRC Peer Review and Strategic Review College Member (2017-22) The Malone Society council member (2002-) and Orders Secretary (2002-22) Pasold Research Fund Governor (Expert Member since 2019, 2021-present) As a dedicated supervisor, Richardson welcomes graduate students working on interdisciplinary projects related to early modern dramatic, social and cultural history. Her current AHRC project represents significant grant activity, developing digital resources that explore inclusion/exclusion dynamics in early modern English writing practices. She also serves as General Editor for the Oxford Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe and Series Editor for Arden Studies in Early Modern Material Culture. Through her directorship of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries, Richardson fosters research that bridges historical material culture studies with contemporary creative industry practices, creating innovative pathways for engaging with historical materials through modern technological approaches.
Isobel Hurst is a Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research specializes in Classical Reception Studies, focusing on the interplay between Greek and Roman literature and 19th-century women's writing. Academic qualifications: D.Phil. (2003), M.Phil. in English Studies (2000), BA in Classics and English (1995) - all from the University of Oxford Her research explores how women writers like Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George Eliot creatively engaged with classical texts to challenge gender norms and societal constraints, particularly through reworkings of Homeric and Virgilian themes. She examines intersections between domesticity and epic traditions, feminist reinterpretations of mythology, and the role of classical education in women's authorship. Recent publications analyze Louise Glück's mythic poetry, Victorian epic traditions, and transatlantic classical dialogues. She supervises PhD students working on topics including Sapphic poetics, prophetic figures in literature, and epic subversions in contemporary forms. Isobel contributes to academic discourse through her involvement with the Decadence Research Centre and Centre for Comparative Literature, bridging classical traditions with modern literary innovations through both teaching and research.
James P. Bednarz is a Professor of English at Long Island University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Columbia College and earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A respected scholar of Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, Bednarz has made significant contributions to early modern literary studies through his publications, editorial work, and public engagement. His research focuses on Shakespeare and his contemporaries, including Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Marston, and John Donne. He is the author of Shakespeare and the Poets’ War (2001), acclaimed as an 'International Book of the Year' by The Times Literary Supplement , and Shakespeare and the Truth of Love (2012), praised for transforming understanding of Shakespeare's work. His scholarship explores literary rivalry, intertextuality, authorship, and the political and religious contexts of Renaissance drama. His recent publications span topics such as Jonson’s satire of Shakespeare, the performance history of Volpone , the dating of Twelfth Night , and the cultural significance of quotation in early modern literature. These works reflect a deep engagement with textual analysis, historical context, and theatrical performance, particularly within the 'War of the Theaters' and Jacobean literary circles. Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU) Abraham Krasnoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU) David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching (LIU) NEH Shakespeare Fellow Beverly Rogers Literary Award Essay (2020) Bednarz has advised university presses and journals, served on the PMLA advisory committee, and contributed to scholarly organizations such as the Shakespeare Association of America. He has also worked with theater groups like the Red Bull Theater and Theater for a New Audience to enhance public understanding of Shakespeare. Though no specific students are named, his mentorship extends to graduate education and teacher training programs. He has not received external grant funding mentioned in the text, but his fellowships from the Huntington Library underscore sustained research support. He is actively involved in academic and performance communities, serving as a consultant on Shakespearean productions and as a judge for the North Shore Student Shakespeare Festival. His work bridges the gap between scholarly research and public humanities, demonstrating a commitment to both rigorous criticism and accessible education.
Joyelle McSweeney is a Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in creative writing, poetry, and translation. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, an M.Phil. from the University of Oxford, and a B.A. from Harvard University. Her work spans poetry, prose, drama, and critical essays, emphasizing ecopoetics, decadence, and genre hybridization. Research focuses on intersections of ecology, media, and occult symbolism, with key works like The Necropastoral: Poetry, Media, Occults (2015) proposing a decadent approach to ecological writing. Awards include a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship and the Shelley Memorial Prize for Toxicon and Arachne (2020). She co-founded Action Books press, amplifying global poetry and translation. Education: MFA (2001, Iowa), M.Phil (1999, Oxford), B.A. (1997, Harvard) Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship, Arts & Letters Award, Shelley Memorial Prize Key publications include Dead Youth , Salamandrine , and Death Styles Teaching excellence recognized by the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Award. Her creative output combines experimental form with thematic explorations of decay, prophecy, and ecological crisis.
Irina Rasmussen is an Associate Professor (Docent) at the Department of English , Stockholm University, specializing in modernist literature across British, American, Irish, and Russian traditions. Her research extends to the history of aesthetics , dialectical materialism , and world literature from the 19th to mid-20th century. As a member of Forum Modernism , she explores both mainstream and marginalized expressions of modernism while critically interrogating the concept itself. Primary research areas: British/American/Irish/Russian modernism, aesthetics history, dialectical materialism Current book project: "Vernacular Modernisms: Poetics of the World" Published in: James Joyce Quarterly , Modernism/modernity , James Joyce Broadsheet Her scholarship emphasizes: Form-sensitive readings of modernist texts Intersection of nationalism and internationalism in Joyce's work Political implications of archival practices (e.g., Gumby Collection analysis) Curatorial approaches in modernist documentation For thesis supervision in literary theory, postcolonial criticism, or world-literature frameworks, contact: irina.rasmussen@english.su.se
Drew Milne is the Judith E Wilson Professor of Poetics in the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge. He serves as a Staff Fellow and Director of Studies in English at Corpus Christi College, and as Keeper of the Lewis Collection. His scholarly and creative work bridges poetry, criticism, and interdisciplinary research. University of Cambridge, Faculty of English Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Keeper of the Lewis Collection Research Interests : Milne specializes in poetics and critical theory , with a focus on modernist and contemporary poetry , Shakespeare in performance , Beckett studies , and ecological poetics . His work intersects Marxist criticism , performance analysis , and avant-garde traditions , reflecting interests in figures like Gertrude Stein, Mina Loy, and Caryl Churchill. Article Trends : Milne's publications span modernist legacies , Marxist literary theory , and ecocritical approaches . He examines Scottish modernism (Hugh MacDiarmid), Shakespearean adaptations , and Beckett's philosophical engagements . His recent works include explorations of metrical politics in Romantic poetry and performance dialectics in Adorno's thought. Professional Contributions : Milne edits Parataxis Editions and co-edited Marxist Literary Theory: A Reader with Terry Eagleton. He contributes to journals like Textual Practice , Diacritics , and Shakespeare Survey , addressing topics from postwar British drama to avant-garde poetics . His creative works include poetry collections like Cutting Carbons (2019) and In Darkest Capital: Collected Poems (2017).
Dr. Yuichi Tsukada is an Associate Professor of English Literature at Waseda University , Japan, with a focus on Shakespearean studies and early modern cultural politics. He holds a PhD from King’s College London , an MA from The University of Tokyo , and a BA in British Area Studies from the same institution. His research interrogates the interplay between Shakespearean drama , Elizabethan nostalgia , and political identity in Jacobean England . His scholarly output spans analyses of Macbeth 's prophecies, Coriolanus ' gendered military allegory, and Antony and Cleopatra 's negotiation of Elizabethan legacy. He has held grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Suntory Foundation , and serves as Director-General of the Kanto Branch of the English Literary Society of Japan. Key publications include the monograph Shakespeare and the Politics of Nostalgia (Arden Shakespeare, 2019), which recontextualizes Shakespeare’s late plays within Jacobean debates about Elizabeth I. His work has been recognized with the University of Tokyo President’s Grand Award and the Young Scholar Award of Special Merit from the English Literary Society of Japan. Scientific Awards: Suntory Foundation Grant for Groundbreaking Young Researchers Fukuhara Award (English and American Literature) Award of Special Merit, English Literary Society of Japan The University of Tokyo President’s Grand Award Ichiko Memorial Award Valedictorian, The University of Tokyo His teaching portfolio includes courses on Shakespeare and Film , Literary Theory , and History of English Literature , reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to pedagogy.
Dr. John Severn is a Research Fellow at Macquarie University's Department of International Studies: Languages and Cultures. His career spans academia, law, and translation, with a focus on theatre internationalization, Shakespearean adaptation, and community engagement. Education: PhD in Theatre Studies and English, University of New South Wales MA(Hons) in Shakespeare and Theatre, University of Birmingham LLB(Hons) in Law and French, University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh BA(Hons) in Theatre Studies and Opera Studies, University of Manchester/Rose Bruford College CertHE in Scottish Gaelic language and culture, University of the Highlands and Islands His research explores theatre and internationalization through opera, musicals, and Shakespearean adaptation. He investigates how performing arts foster inclusive/exclusive communities and addresses barriers to participation. His work intersects European cultural history, arts policy, and transnational practices. Recent publications highlight trends in Shakespearean operatic adaptation, Australian theatre censorship, and decolonial processes in performance. His co-edited works include The Routledge Companion to Theatre and Internationalization and Theatre and Internationalization: Perspectives from Australia, Germany, and Beyond . Dr. Severn collaborates with institutions like the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and the Goethe-Institut Australia. He founded the research cluster 'Staging Migration in Berlin' and co-organizes international conferences on theatre internationalization.
Thomas Fulton is a Professor of English at Rutgers University since 2003. He specializes in early modern English literature with emphases on John Milton, William Shakespeare, and intersections of politics, religion, and book history. His research examines how biblical interpretation shaped literary and political thought in the Renaissance. Key works include Historical Milton (2010), The Book of Books (2021), and co-edited volumes like The Bible on the Shakespearean Stage (2018). He has held prestigious fellowships from the Folger Library, NEH, and Beinecke Library. Teaching highlights include leading a travel course to London's Royal Shakespeare Company and courses on Renaissance drama and political theory. Awards include the Goheen Prize and MLA's Best Special Award. Education: PhD Yale University, BA University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research interests span early modern manuscript culture, Reformation print networks, and the performative dimensions of religious texts. Current projects explore adversarial reading practices and gendered interpretations in early modern literature.
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