Elisabeth Alderks is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English. In her research she analyzes the ethical potential of ironic critique in world literary texts (fictional works that circulate beyond their era, culture, and language of origin). After earning her MA and PhD at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2013, 2019), she is glad to return to her alma mater (2010) as a faculty member. Her courses, like her research, investigate the intersection of literature, social critique, and technology in our increasingly globalized world.

For her next research project, she will investigate the possibilities and limitations of textual circulation through digital tools; can the internet really help us better connect with other cultures or does it continue to limit what we recognize as a work of literature?