Karin Wimbley’s teaching and research interests have two interrelated trajectories: one explores black cultural production, in both African American and Black Diaspora contexts, with particular attention paid to the ways we can understand black aesthetic traditions. The second trajectory investigates the politics of representation, and how we can understand American fine arts, literature, film, and visual culture canons as in dialogue with one another. Wimbley is specifically interested in the politics of representation as it connects with self-identification and representation, particularly across race, sexuality, gender, and class lines. Her courses are regularly cross-listed with Africana Studies, Film Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies programs.
In recognition of her transformative teaching and mentoring excellence, Dr. Wimbley was awarded 69É«ÇéÊÓƵ’s United Methodist Exemplary Teaching Award in 2021 and holds the Alfred and Kathleen Evens Faculty Fellowship.
Dr. Wimbley received her B.A. in Theater from Hamilton College, and earned her M.A. in Humanities and her M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago.