Ashley Laughlin

I am a non-traditional and first-generation student who has dreamed of academia for as I can remember. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in English Literature. I have a bachelor’s  degree in English Literature and Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Wyoming, and an associate’s degree in English from Laramie County Community College. As a community-focused person, I am a fierce advocate for interdisciplinary studies, the humanities, and accessible education. I firmly believe that interdisciplinary studies make the world a better, safer, and more inclusive place, and that interdisciplinarity builds bridges.

 

My long-term goal is to work as a scholar and professor in literary studies, focusing on modern fantasy and speculative fiction. My master’s thesis is an intersectional analysis on the remediation and reclamation of dragons in Western literature and media, and I completed an undergraduate thesis on the topic of masculinity and interpretive agendas in Beowulf  translations. In addition to being enthusiastic about the ever-growing field of Beowulf translations, my research interests include fantasy and speculative fiction, public humanities, critical disability theories, and feminist theories. As you might imagine based on my academic pursuits, I am a life-long nerd and bookworm. In my free time, I am a gardener, a hobbyist photographer, and a cozy gamer. I will most often be found reading a book.

 

Prior to returning to college in 2019, I was a State of Wyoming employee. During this time, I worked as an administrator and teacher for several experiential learning programs focused on employment and life skills in Albany County, Wyoming. I am beyond excited to now utilize this past experience for the UW Honors College.