Bio:

Professor Leslie Donovan’s research publications and presentations include studies on J.R.R. Tolkien, Beowulf, saints' lives, Old Norse mythology, Old English literature, pedagogy, disability studies, and women and gender studies. Her most well-recognized works advocate strong pedagogical models and method for teaching or emphasize the unexpectedly powerful roles of women characters who are often overlooked or under-represented. As Editor of the Mythopoeic Press, Donovan is a member of the governing board for the Mythopoeic Society, an international professional organization.

Donovan earned her BA from UNM in Creative Writing-Poetry, with a minor in Journalism, and she completed UNM’s Honors program as an undergraduate. She went on at UNM to complete an MA in medieval English literature. During that time, she studied in Iceland on a Fulbright group grant. Following her MA, Donovan earned a Diploma with Distinction in Early Irish language and literature at University College in Dublin, Ireland. Later, at the University of Washington in Seattle, she specialized in Old English language and literature to earn her PhD.

She currently teaches a wide range of interdisciplinary humanities and communications courses for UNM’s Honors College. Topics of her courses tend to revolve around outsiders in early cultures, creative expression, the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, future studies, and others. Whatever topic she teaches, she makes it a point to weave multicultural perspectives and materials into her syllabi and assignments. She has been recognized with several teaching awards, including UNM’s Presidential Teaching Fellowship. She serves as the Faculty Coordinator for UNM’s Regents Scholars program and was the instructor/faculty advisor of Scribendi for 14.5 years.

Research Interest:

Tolkien studies; creativity; futurism; medieval literature and culture (Old Norse, Old English, Early Irish); classical literature; fantasy and science fiction literature; technology; women studies, gender and transgender studies; disability studies; pedagogy and teaching.