Who is Susan Harris from Jeopardy? Professor’s Age, Job, Family & More
Susan Cannon Harris, based in Chicago, Illinois, is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and a key member of the Keough Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her academic career is rooted in English literature, with a specialized focus on Irish studies. Harris’ work spans multiple fields, including Irish literature, Irish and American drama, performance theory, gender studies, queer theory, comparative literature, and LGBTQ fiction. Over the course of her career, she has developed a reputation for rigorous scholarship and innovative research that examines the intersections of literature, theater, and social politics.
Harris’ research often explores historical and contemporary theater, tracing how playwrights engage with social and political movements. Her work reflects a broad intellectual curiosity, examining the ways in which literature intersects with questions of identity, sexuality, and political ideology. By situating Irish drama within international contexts, Harris provides insight into the global influence of Irish playwrights and the ways in which literature can serve as a vehicle for social critique and cultural dialogue.
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Publications and Research Achievements
Harris’ scholarly contributions include several significant publications. Her first book, Gender and Modern Irish Drama (Indiana University Press, 2002), was recognized with both the Donald Murphy Prize for a Distinguished First Book and the Robert Rhodes Prize for Books on Literature from the American Conference for Irish Studies. This work established her as a leading voice in gender-focused literary analysis within Irish drama.
Her subsequent publication, Irish Drama and the Other Revolutions: Playwrights, Sexual Politics, and the International Left, 1892–1964 (Edinburgh University Press, 2017), examines how Irish playwrights navigated both sexual and socialist revolutions, and how their work influenced leftist theater movements across Europe and America. Harris’ research also includes extensive archival work on figures such as W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, J. M. Synge, Seán O’Casey, and Samuel Beckett, connecting literary analysis with historical and political inquiry. Her articles have appeared in prominent journals including PMLA, Theatre Journal, Modern Drama, James Joyce Quarterly, Eire-Ireland, and Victorian Literature and Culture.
Teaching and Pedagogical Recognition
Beyond her research, Harris is a dedicated educator. She has been recognized with multiple teaching awards, including the Kaneb Teaching Award in 2005, the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2015, and the Marian Mullin Hancock Award in Gender Studies in 2019. These honors highlight her ability to translate complex literary and cultural theories into engaging and accessible classroom experiences. Harris’ teaching emphasizes the interplay between literature, performance, and societal issues, encouraging students to think critically about the role of culture in shaping identity and political thought.
Her work in the classroom complements her research, often drawing on historical and contemporary drama to explore themes of gender, sexuality, and social change. By integrating performance theory and LGBTQ studies into her curriculum, Harris provides students with a dynamic and interdisciplinary perspective on literature and culture.
Current Projects and Continuing Scholarship
Harris continues to pursue research projects related to theater in the digital age, reflecting her interest in how contemporary technologies shape performance, audience engagement, and cultural production. Her ongoing work demonstrates a commitment to innovation and adaptation within the field of Irish and comparative literature.
With a career that bridges rigorous scholarship and award-winning pedagogy, Susan Cannon Harris brings to Jeopardy! a wealth of knowledge on literature, drama, and cultural studies. Her deep expertise, coupled with her analytical skills and dedication to teaching, positions her as a formidable and intellectually versatile contestant ready to engage with a wide range of topics on the Jeopardy! stage.
