Are you a current or former student looking for a letter of recommendation? Please be sure to request one at least 6 weeks before the due date and send me all relevant materials about the program to which you are applying.
If you are a current or former student interested in having me advise your thesis, exam committee, or dissertation, please reach out to schedule time to speak with me in-person.
I am also happy to speak about career opportunities both in academia and outside of academia, particularly in fields such as publishing and foreign policy-related careers.
Please know that I care about your wellbeing and want you to have the academic and emotional support you need to succeed on your academic journey. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions, and take advantage of support groups offered by UM and in Washtenaw County, including NAMI Washtenaw’s Campuses in Color.
Course Descriptions
Comparative Literature (CL) 600: CL600 is a seminar-style course for first-year doctoral students in the department of Comparative Literature and related fields. It is designed to help introduce students to theory through the lens of the instructor’s areas of interest and expertise. As such it is not a comprehensive study of all theories, everywhere–rather, it is a targeted and methodological introduction to thinking with theory as guided by a practical application. This course explores the intellectual and historical trajectories in the globalizing field of trauma studies as a means through which to understand what theory does (and what it doesn’t do), how it carves out a place for itself in academic and popular discourses, and how we might best make use of it. By the end of the semester, students will feel more comfortable reading and engaging with theoretical texts; understand the trajectory of trauma studies and its real-world impacts; and develop a strong writing voice when engaging with theory and literature.
Renée Ragin Randall 