Risa Applegarth

Renowned for her innovative contributions in the fields of genre theory and feminist theory, Risa Applegarth is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she is appointed through Spring 2025. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her doctoral dissertation was honored with the prestigious 2010 James Berlin Memorial Outstanding Dissertation Award. Professor Applegarth's research and teaching interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, encompassing genre theory, feminist theory, women's rhetorics, autobiography, nature writing, and science studies. Her work often explores the intersections of these fields, offering new insights into how genres shape and are shaped by cultural and scientific discourses. Her scholarly contributions include articles published in esteemed journals such as Rhetoric Society Quarterly and College Composition and Communication (CCC). These publications reflect her commitment to advancing understanding in her areas of expertise and her ability to engage with complex theoretical frameworks in accessible and impactful ways. In addition to her articles, Applegarth is the author of the forthcoming book "Other Grounds: Gender, Genre, and Science in American Anthropology," which will be published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. This work promises to offer a groundbreaking exploration of the interplay between gender, genre, and scientific discourse within the context of American anthropology. Through her teaching, Professor Applegarth inspires students to critically engage with texts and ideas, fostering a learning environment that encourages exploration and intellectual growth. Her courses often challenge students to consider the role of rhetoric in shaping societal narratives and to appreciate the power of language in constructing knowledge. As a respected scholar and educator, Risa Applegarth continues to contribute significantly to her fields of interest, influencing both her students and the broader academic community with her insightful research and passionate teaching.