Biography
Suzanne Ashworth is a professor in the Department of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. She has taught early American literature, women's literature, GLBTQ literatures, gender & sexuality studies, film studies, and the emotional, political, and interpersonal implications of social media.
Her research interests include the history of reading, pop culture and media studies. Her published work examines the interplay among literature; histories of the body, desire, sexuality, and gender; and critical theory. Her latest project is a book-length study of Poe’s short fiction.
Areas of Expertise (16)
Interpersonal Relationships and Social Media
Bullying & Social Media
Edgar Allan Poe
LGBTQ Equality
Social Media & Social Change
Pop Culture
Film Studies
GLBTQ Literatures
Early American Literature
Gender & Sexuality Studies
Women's Literature
Media Studies
LGBTQ Rights
Teens on Screen
Social Media and Politics
Implications of Social Media
Education (3)
Miami University: B.A. 1992
Pennsylvania State University: M.A. 1994
Pennsylvania State University: Ph.D 2000
Links (2)
Languages (1)
- English
Selected Media Appearances (4)
‘We Survived and Thrived’: LGBTQ Students Reflect During Lavender Graduation
NBC News online
2017-05-25
Otterbein University's Lavender Graduation is a ceremony for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, along with their families and allies. It is an affirmation of these students’ achievements, but also their struggles. And, just as importantly, it’s a reminder to the college not to overlook their unique needs.
What are America's First Coed Colleges Doing Today?
College Choice online
The United State’s first colleges to admit women all did so under very different circumstances and at different times. But what unites them now is their embracing of programs that support a diverse student body, including navigating modern issues such as gender and identity.
Will White House's gender-neutral restroom start a national trend?
Christian Science Monitor online
2015-04-09
"A growing number of college campuses and businesses have established gender-inclusive facilities," adds Suzanne Ashworth, an associate professor of English at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, who teaches Gender & Sexuality studies and who fought for gender neutral restrooms at Otterbein.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’ breaks Broadway mold, with universal message told in modern terms
The Columbus Dispatch print
2019-09-08
Setting the story within today’s fraught social-media environment evokes larger issues, said Suzanne Ashworth, an Otterbein University English professor who in several of her classes explores how social media affects identity and personal development.
Selected Event Appearances (1)
Queer Grief, American Culture & Poe
Library Lecture Series Westerville Public Library
2019-10-09
Social