The Department of English and Comparative Literature

Columbia's Department of English and Comparative Literature has played a significant role in the history of literary study in the United States and abroad since its inception. With a large faculty of renowned scholars and dedicated teachers, our department offers a wide range of courses, recognizing traditional values in the discipline yet reflecting its changing shape.

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Recent Headlines

May 05, 2026

Farah Jasmine Griffin Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The Department of English and Comparative Literature warmly congratulates Farah Jasmine Griffin, University Professor, on being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

March 30, 2026

Benjamin VanWagoner (GSAS '18) Wins RSA First Book Prize, 2026

The Department warmly congratulates Benjamin VanWagoner (GSAS '18), whose book Imperial Ventures: Maritime Drama and the Invention of Risk (Penn, 2025) has been awarded the Renaissance Society of America's inaugural First Book Prize.

The RSA's citation for Imperial Ventures notes:

March 06, 2026

Molly Murray Receives Humanities Award for Community Building & Engagement

Molly Murray, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Division of Humanities Faculty Recognition Award for Community Building and Engagement. The award recognizes Professor Murray as a transformative DUS, whose work has been central to the Department’s successes in undergraduate education. The Department congratulates Professor Murray on this much-deserved recognition!