Mx Abs Stannard Ashley

I joined the University of Bristol in 2017, first as an MA student, then as a AHRC-funded doctoral researcher. I now work for as Lecturer in the Department of English.

My research interests lie at the intersection of modern and contemporary British and American literature and critical neurodiversity studies. My current projects examine neuroqueer (a)socialities as radical practice in contemporary prose forms, and neurodivergent-inclusive pedagogical practice in the Arts. My AHRC-funded doctoral thesis explored neuro/gender entanglements in contemporary literary works by autistic authors.

More broadly, I am interested in literary health humanities/critical medical humanities, disability studies, (neuro)queer theory, queer ecologies, intersectionality, and gender studies.

I teach extensively at Bristol and since 2020 have designed and led seminars, lectures, or acted as unit convenor on the following units and courses. This has led to a further interest in the symbiotic relations between teaching and research, and related projects on neurodivergent-inclusive pedagogy in the Arts.

• Reading English Literature (REL)
• Literature and the Politics of Gender (ELCE)
• Poetry (ELCE)
• American Literature (ELCE)
• Understanding Critical Theory and Thought (ELCE, unit convenor)
• Mastering English Literature (MEL)
• Y3 Celebrity Cultures
• Y3 Dissertation Workshops
• Y1 Reading Identities 
• Y1 Critical Issues
• Y2 Shakespeare
• Y1 The Science of Happiness (Psychology)
• Y1/2/3 Sustainable Development (Human Geography)
• Widening Participation Tutor for the Arts (External Relations)