Department of English

- 16th- and 17th-century British literature, especially drama
- Shakespeare
- Gender and Sexuality Criticism
- Social and Cultural Historicism
- American Popular culture

Profile

Dr. Thomas joined the English department at the College of Charleston in January 2005. Previously, she taught classes at the Pennsylvania State University, where she earned her Master's and Ph.D. degrees in English Renaissance literature. She instructs first-year composition courses, Honors Western Civilization, the early British literature survey, and Renaissance literature (especially drama) at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Thomas is also director of the British Studies Program and a faculty affiliate of the Women's and Gender Studies Program. She is currently working on research related to Shakespeare and the graphic arts.

Recent Publications and Presentations

Review of Poor Women in Shakespeare, by Fiona McNeill, and Reading the Jewish Woman on the Elizabethan Stage, by Michelle Ephraim. Theatre Research International 34.3 (October 2009). Forthcoming.

Review of Shakespeare’s Women: Performance and Conception, by David Mann. Theatre Research International 34.2 (July 2009): 217-18.

“Poisoned Justice: Passion and Politics in The Winter’s Tale.” In Justice, Women, and Power in English Renaissance Drama. Ed. Emily Detmer-Goebel and Andy Majeski. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2009.

May 2009 Invited Speaker, “From Graduate School to Tenure: Developing a Career as a Teacher-Scholar.” Pennsylvania State University, English Department Graduate Program (University Park, PA.

April 2009 Presenter, “The Intimacy of Sin: Poisoned Spaces in The Changeling.” Shakespeare Association of America Meeting (Washington, DC)

Nov. 2008 Presenter, “Courting the Basilisk: Poisoning and Political Access in The Changeling.” Group for Early Modern Cultural Studies Conference (Philadelphia, PA)

Oct. 2008 Guest Panelist/Speaker, English 395 Introduction to Literary Studies, “Writing Successful Undergraduate Research Essays.” College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)

Sept. 2008 Panelist/Speaker, Thursday Night Discussion Series, “The Successful Graduate Paper.” Sponsored by the English Graduate Program, College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)

Sept. 2008 Guest Speaker, Third Thursdays Series, “Queering Comic Shakespeare.” Sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)

April 2008 Keynote Speaker, Shakespeare Birthday Lecture, “Desiring Viola in Nunn’s Twelfth Night.” South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, SC)

Mar. 2008 Presenter, “Bloody Rights: Macbeth and the Politics of Tyranny.” Shakespeare Association of America Meeting (Dallas, TX)