Brian Russell Roberts
Professor, English
4147 JFSB
422-1376
Research Areas:
African American, American studies, Environment, Postcolonialism, Twentieth century
In the English Department, I teach courses ranging from the American literature survey to graduate courses in literature and theory. For the American Studies Program, I teach courses ranging from introductory to the senior seminar. Recently, I have offered courses on trans-Pacific modernism, environmental humanities, and literature of the Topaz Internment Camp in central Utah. I have taught recent graduate courses titled “Island and Ocean Studies” and “Borderwaters of US American Literature.” My areas of research include American Studies, African American literature, and modernism/modernity. I have been especially interested in African American writers of the twentieth century in dialogue with interlocutors in locales ranging from Indonesia to France. I have also been an innovator of archipelagic approaches to American Studies as well as in the arena of archipelagic thinking more generally. Much of my work in service has been dedicated to American Studies. I have worked extensively in curriculum development and design, helping evaluate and update BYU’s American Studies curriculum as well as consulting for the American Studies Program at Universitas Sebelas Maret in Solo, Indonesia. I also serve on the editorial boards or collectives for a handful of publication venues, including Journal of Transnational American Studies and Rowman & Littlefield’s Rethinking the Island book series. I am currently serving on the MLA First Book Prize selection committee.Teaching Experience
Research
Selected Publications
Service
Citizenship assignments
By appointment