Dr. Jane Desmond

Biography

Jane Desmond is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She specializes in Women's Studies and serves as the current Director of the International Forum on U.S. Studies and co-founder of the Center for Transnational Study of the United States. Her research interests focus on embodiment, display, social identity, and the transnational dimensions of U.S. Studies, with expertise in performance studies, critical theory, visual culture, and political economy of human-animal relations. Desmond's career includes work as a professional modern dancer and choreographer, as well as filmmaker and educator. She is the founding resident director of the International Summer Institute on Animal Studies at UIUC and has contributed to the 'Animal Lives' book series published by the University of Chicago Press. In addition to her academic publications, she has written for prominent outlets including CNN.com, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post, with her creative work featured in multiple film festivals. Desmond’s academic credentials include a Ph.D. from Yale University in American Studies, an M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and a B.A. from Brown University. She has received several awards and grants from institutions such as the Hewlett Foundation and the Ford Foundation, and has held various fellowships at the University of Edinburgh and UIUC. Desmond has taught a range of courses focusing on performance studies, the representation of gender in America, and the intersections of culture and nature.

Research Interests