Isom Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Angela LaGrotteria

About Dr. LaGrotteria:

“Take a Gender Studies class at UM – you’ll want to minor in it!.”

Dr. Angela LaGrotteria

Angie LaGrotteria joined the Isom Center in August 2022 as an online instructional assistant professor in gender studies. She has a Ph.D. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Emory University, an M.A. in English from Cleveland State University, an M.A. in Women’s Studies from San Diego State University, and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Ohio University. Her dissertation research analyzed how women protagonists, in contemporary Appalachian and US Southwest literature, embody and defy norms of region and gender. She teaches a variety of classes in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies, including classes on contemporary US literature, feminist and queer theory, and regional writing and literature of place. Introduction to Gender Studies is one of her favorite classes to teach! She is also a certified mediator and yoga instructor.

The following is a Q and A she did with our graduate assistant, Kara Russell:

Where are you from and what led you to the Isom Center?

I’m from Elyria, Ohio. And so is Dr. Nora Augustine! When I saw the job posting for an Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies, I thought, “This looks perfect!” I applied and am honored to be a part of the Isom Center now.

What is your academic background and field of study?

My PhD is in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and my field of study is feminist literature and theory.

What’s your favorite part of your job? The most challenging?

One of the best parts of my job is working with students in Intro to Gender Studies and seeing their first or early understandings of exactly how power, privilege, and oppression work in their lives and the lives of those close to them. A heavy grading load is always a challenge.

What’s something you’ve accomplished or experienced, either personally or professionally, that you’re proud of?

I bought my first house last summer – just a couple blocks south of Lake Erie.

What are your talents or hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy jogging, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Who or what motivates you?

I’m motivated by my students’ curiosity, passion, and willingness to be open-minded and critically self-reflective.

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

Waking up without an alarm, taking my time drinking coffee, spending time with my nephew and my bunny, walking down to the lake and sitting on the pier on a warm, sunny day.

Anything else you’d like to share with Isom staff/students/visitors to the website?

Take a Gender Studies class at UM – you’ll want to minor in it!