Rate My Professor Jennifer Hughes

Dr. Jennifer Hughes serves as Associate Professor of English at Averett University, where she has been on the faculty since 2013. She earned her B.S. from Cornell University, M.A. from the University of Virginia, and Ph.D. from Emory University. Beginning her career at Averett as an Assistant Professor, she was awarded tenure in 2019 and advanced to Associate Professor. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Hughes chairs the Department of Language, Literature, and Culture, previously referred to as the Department of Language, Literature, and Communication and the English Department. She also directs the Honors Program, guiding students through enriched academic experiences and encouraging discussions on their passions and motivations. In 2023, she assumed the role of Director of General Education, overseeing the program's management, assisting faculty in course development, and contributing to the modernization and energization of the curriculum. Furthermore, she supports student-athletes as Faculty Athletic Mentor for the Esports program, providing guidance and integration of academic and athletic pursuits.

Dr. Hughes' scholarly interests center on Mark Twain's late writings, with a particular emphasis on themes of grief, humor, and trauma. On September 18, 2023, she delivered the presentation 'Broken Idols: How Mark Twain Grieved' at Blount Library as part of the Averett Academic Colloquium. The talk examined an unpublished elegy titled 'Broken Idols,' composed by Twain on the anniversary of his daughter Susy Clemens' death and intended for his wife Olivia to help them share their sorrow. Dr. Hughes highlighted the poem's narrative frame, Twain's clever and sardonic style, and the compassionate lessons it offers on grieving. Her recognition as Faculty Member of the Year in 2021 during the virtual Founders' Day convocation underscored her impact, where she carried the university mace. Dr. Hughes also contributes to student success through involvement in English placement exams and departmental leadership, fostering a vibrant academic environment at Averett University.