Deborah T. Meem

Deb Meem specializes in Victorian literature, LGBTQ studies, and 19th C. novels by women. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1971 with a double major in English and music, then after a decade away from the academy returned to graduate school in English at Stony Brook University, where she earned a Ph.D. in 1985. Her work has appeared in Journal of the History of Sexuality, Feminist Teacher, Studies in Popular Culture and elsewhere. She has edited four long-forgotten books by Victorian journalist, novelist, and antifeminist Eliza Lynn Linton: The Rebel of the Family (Broadview, 2002), Realities (Valancourt, 2010), The Autobiography of Christopher Kirkland (Victorian Secrets, 2011, with Kate Holterhoff), and Sowing the Wind (Victorian Secrets, 2015, with Kate Holterhoff). With Michelle Gibson she has co-edited Femme/Butch: New Considerations of the Way We Want To Go (2002) and Lesbian Academic Couples (2005), both published by Haworth Press. Her co-authored book Finding Out: An Introduction to LGBT Studies (with Michelle Gibson and Jonathan Alexander) was published by Sage Press in 2009; its second edition appeared in 2013, and the third edition is due in 2017. Deb served as Head of the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from 2008-15. When not in that position, she teaches Sexuality Studies in the Department of WGSS and occasionally literature in the English Department. She serves on UC’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, and was also longtime co-chair of the LGBT faculty/staff Task Force at UC.
 

PhD English Literature: SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY, 1985 (Dissertation topic: "The Inner Epic Tradition in Nineteenth-Century Novels by Women")

BA: Wellesley College Wellesley, MA, 1971 (English and Music)

2008 -2010 Interim Head, Dept. of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Cincinnati,

2004 -To Present Professor of English and WGSS, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Cincinnati,

1996 -2003 Professor of English, University College, University of Cincinnati,

1990 -1996 Associate Professor of English, University College, University of Cincinnati,

1984 -1990 Assistant Professor of English, University College, University of Cincinnati,

1983 -1984 Adjunct Instructor of English and Head of Developmental Writing Division, Stony Brook University,

2010 -2015 Head, Dept of Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, Univ of Cincinnati,

1990 University of Cincinnati University Research Council Type:Grant

1999 University of Cincinnati University Research Council Type:Grant

1988 -2006 University of Cincinnati Friends of Womens Studies Travel Type:Grant

1982 Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in Womens Studies Type:Fellowship

1982 -1983 SUNY Stony Brook Dissertation Fellowship Type:Fellowship

2006 -2013 Taft travel grants Type:Grant

Grant: #ECA - Anwar Mahajna Investigators:Mahajna, Anwar; Meem, Deborah; Parr, Adrian 01-15-2012 -06-15-2012 Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion Gender, Identity, and Family: Religious Ritual, the Family Unit, and Inclusiveness in Reform Judaism 1975-Present Role:PI $7,500.00 Awarded Level:Institution of Higher Education

2015 -2016 Taft Conference grant to support "Highsmith: Queer and Now" symposium, April 2016 Role:primary organizer $1275.00 conference plus $2530.00 keynote lecture speaker Completed Type:Grant

Book

Eliza Lynn Linton. The Autobiography of Christopher Kirkland. Victorian Secrets Press, 2011.

Eliza Lynn Linton. Realities. Kansas City MO: Valancourt, 2010.

Deborah T. Meem, Michelle Gibson, and Jonathan Alexander. Finding Out: An Introduction to LGBT Studies. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage, 2009.

Co-editor. Lisa Hogeland and Shay Brawn, editors. The Aunt Lute Anthology of U.S. Women Writers, Volume Two: Twentieth Century. San Francisco CA: Aunt Lute, 2008.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. Lesbian Academic Couples. Binghamton NY: Haworth, 2006.

Co-editor. Lisa Hogeland and Mary Klages, editors. The Aunt Lute Anthology of U.S. Women Writers, Volume One: 17th-19th Centuries . San Francisco CA: Aunt Lute, 2004.

Eliza Lynn Linton. The Rebel of the Family. Peterborough ON: Broadview, 2002.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. Femme/Butch: New Considerations of the Way We Want To Go. Binghamton NY: Haworth, 2002.

Finding Out: An Introduction to LGBT Studies (second edition)

Eliza Lynn Linton. Sowing the Wind. Victorian Secrets Press, 2015. Co-Editor Co-edited with Kate Holterhoff.

Book Chapter

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. Basic Writing in America: The History of Nine College Programs. "After the Fall: The Life & Death & Life of a College, a Department, & a Basic Writing Program". Ed. P. McAlexander and N. Greene. Cresskill NJ: Hampton, 2008. 49-70.

Deborah T. Meem. "Approaches to Teaching Thoreau's Walden and Other Works." "The Privileged Protester: Teaching Thoreau in the Two-Year College". Ed. Richard J. Schneider. NY: MLA, 1996. 121-128.

Deborah T. Meem. "Voices of Empowerment." "Gender Issues in the Developmental Writing Program". Ed. L. Masiello. Delaware OH: Ohio Wesleyan University, 1989. 41-42.

Deborah T. Meem. "Voices of Empowerment." "Up-and-Coming or Interweaving: How Does Your Power Grow?". Ed. L. Masiello. Delaware OH: Ohio Wesleyan University, 1989. 120-123.

Deborah T. Meem. "The Emerging Frontier: Interactive Video, Artificial Intelligence and Classroom Technology." "Basic Writers at the Keyboard: A Report on the Computer Controlled Study at the University of Cincinnati". Tempe AZ: ASU Press, 1988. 152-159.

Deborah T. Meem and Bea Jacobson. "Proceedings of the East Central Writing Centers Association Conference." "Writing Center Dis-staff: Dis-Placed? Dis-Engaged? Dis-Affected?". Youngstown OH: Youngstown State University, 1987.

Deborah T. Meem. "Words Reaching Out to Worlds." "Incorporating Feminist Materials into the Teaching and Tutoring of Writing". Highland Heights KY: Northern Kentucky University, 1986.

Deborah T. Meem. "The Complete Operas of Alessandro Scarlatti." "Il Trionfo dell'Onore". Ed. Donald J. Grout. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 1975.

Peer Reviewed Publications

Deborah T. Meem, Michelle Gibson, Martha Marinara. ""Bi, Butch, and Bar Dyke: Pedagogical Performances of Class, Gender, and Sexuality"." College Composition and Communication 52 (2000): 69-95.

Gibson, Michelle, & Meem, Deborah T (2005). Performing transformation: reflections of a lesbian academic couple. Journal of lesbian studies, 9(4), 107-28.

Gibson, Michelle, & Meem, Deborah T (2005). Introduction: lesbian academic couples. Journal of lesbian studies, 9(4), 1-12.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. ""Performing Transformation: Reflections of a Lesbian Academic Couple"." Journal of Lesbian Studies 9 (2005): 107-128.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Teaching 'Paul's Case' as a Gay Text"." Eureka Studies in Teaching Short Fiction 3 (2002): 20-29. Reprint in Short Story Criticism, Layman Poupard (Columbia SC), 2014.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Eliza Lynn Linton and the Rise of Lesbian Consciousness"." Journal of the History of Sexuality 7 (1997): 537-560.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. ""The Case of the Lovely Lesbian: Mabel Maney's Queering of Nancy Drew"." Studies in Popular Culture 19 (1997): 23-36.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. ""Teaching, Typecasting, and Butch-Femme Identity"." Feminist Teacher 10 (1996): 12-16.

Deborah T. Meem. ""The Effect of Classroom Computer Use on College Basic Writers"." Research and Teaching in Developmental Education 8 (1992): 57-69.

Deborah T. Meem and Bea Jacobson. ""Images of Writing Center Staff: Missionaries or Misfits?"." Issues in College Learning Centers 9 (1989): 21-25.

"Eliza Lynn Linton" in The Encyclopedia of Victorian Literature (Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwood, 2014). Ed. Dino Felluga.

Electronic Journal

Deborah T. Meem and Jonathan Alexander. ""Dorian Gray, Tom Ripley, and the Queer Closet"." [Electronic version]. 5 (2003).

Other Publication

Deborah T. Meem. "Review of Victorian Sappho by Yopie Prins." The Lesbian Review of Books 6 (2000): 11.

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson. "Review of My Gender Workbook by Kate Bornstein." The Journal of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identity 4 (1999): 373-376.

Deborah T. Meem. "Review of Mrs Keppel and Her Daughter by Diana Souhami." The Lesbian Review of Books 6 (1999): 9.

Deborah T. Meem. "Lesbian Literature and Psychology." LGSN 24 (1997): 7, 8.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Faculty Development"." AAUP White Papers 1 (1993): 3-5.

Deborah T. Meem. ""The Lesbian Experience: An Interdisciplinary Adventure"." Transformations 3 (1992): 36-39.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Chee and McTavish: The Relationship of the Detective to the Supernatural"." Forum 17 (1991): 5-7.

Deborah T. Meem. "Review of The Right Handbook by Patricia Belanoff et al." Teaching English in the Two-Year College 14 (1987): 296-298.

Deborah T. Meem. ""The Unmagical Flutes of July"." Cincinnati Review of Politics and the Arts 1 (1987): 45-46.

Deborah T. Meem. ""The Mahler Eighth: West and Midwest"." The Cincinnati Review of Politics and the Arts 1 (1987): 34-35.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Revision and Satisfaction Using the Bank Street Writer"." ERIC ED 276 059 (1986).

Encyclopedia Article

Deborah T. Meem. "The Ladies of Llangollen." Reader's Guide to Lesbian and Gay Studies. NY: Routledge, 2000.

Deborah T. Meem. ""English Literature: Nineteenth Century"." The Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, 2nd Edition. NY: Garland, 1999.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Rita Mae Brown"." The Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, 2nd Edition. NY: Garland, 1999.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Elizabeth Barrett Browning"." Dictionary of World Biography. Pasadena CA: Salem, 1999.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Dorothy Allison"." Feminist Writers. Farmington Hills MI: St. James, 1996.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Rita Mae Brown"." Feminist Writers. Farmington Hills MI: St. James, 1996.

Deborah T. Meem. "Rita Mae Brown." Great Lives from History: American Women. Pasadena CA: Salem, 1995.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Rubyfruit Jungle"." Masterplots II: Women's Literature. Pasadena CA: Salem, 1995.

Deborah T. Meem. ""Sarah Dreher"." Contemporary Lesbian Writers of the United States: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. Westport CT: Greenwood, 1993.

Published Abstract

Deborah T. Meem. ""Hidden Agenda: The Subversive Message within Three Women's Sensation Novels"." Feminist Forum 12 (1989). Abstract.

Invited Presentations

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (04-2003. ) "Not Your Mama’s Lesbians: Butch/Femme Gender and the Teaching of Writing" .Ohio University, Athens OH. Other Institution. . Level:State

Deborah T. Meem (02-1992. ) "Feminism on the Field" .National Conference on Girls and Women in Sport, Slippery Rock PA. Conference. . Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (09-2013. ) "A Nickel Tour of LGBT History" .Greater Cincinnati Youth Summit, Highland Heights KY. Conference. . Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (11-2006. ) Diversity in Queer Communities: Toward a Lesbian Ethic .Travel Grantee presentation, Women's Studies Dept. UC. .

Deborah T. Meem (01-1991. ) "Lesbian Literature: An Introduction" .LGBTQ Alliance, UC.

Deborah T. Meem (08-2011. ) "Then and NOW: Tales of the Lavender Menace" .Regional NOW meeting, Cincinnati OH. Other Institution. . Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (06-2011. ) "LGBT History" .Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati OH. Other Institution. . Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (04-2013. ) The State of LGBTQ Studies .TUC. UC. . Level:Local

Deborah T. Meem (10-2013. ) "The Impulse to Activism: Four Lives" .Girls Run the World: Encouraging Political Activism in Young Women, Cincinnati, OH. Workshop. . Level:State

Deborah T. Meem, respondent (09-2015. ) Life of the Mind, "Thinking with Slaves" .Alumni Center, UC. UC. . Level:University

Deborah T. Meem (03-2015. ) "A Century of Women" .Woman's City Club, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Cincinnati OH. Other Institution. . Level:Local

Colloquium

Lisa Hogeland, Mary Klages, David Kazanjian, Shay Brawn, Bonnie Dow, Rhonda Pettit, Deborah T. Meem (06-2003). Aunt Lute Anthology Roundtable . National Women's Studies Association, New Orleans LA. Conference. Level:National

Romy Borooah, Robin Sheets, Deborah T. Meem, et al. (03-1991). "Developing Interdisciplinary Graduate Courses in Women's Studies" . North Central Women's Studies Association Conference, South bend, IN. Conference. Level:Regional

Kathy Y. Wilson, Philecia Barnes, Michelle Rowley, Deborah T. Meem et al. (04-2006). “Challenging the Divides: Race and Sexuality in the Greater Cincinnati Area" .UC. Level:Local

Andy Ruffner, Deborah T. Meem et al. (03-2002). “Supporting GLBTQ Youth" . Greater Cincinnati Youth Summit, Highland Heights KY. Level:Local

Deborah T. Meem et al. (02-2001). “Career Planning and Choices: Issues in Diversity" . Women's Leadership Conference, UC.

Romy Borooah, Robin Sheets, Deborah T. Meem et al. (06-1990). "Organizing Clerical Workers at UC: The Success of District 925" . National Women's Studies Association, Akron OH. Conference. Level:National

Cynthia Selfe, Deborah T. Meem et al. (04-1989). Computers and Writing Assessment Roundtable . Seventh Annual Conference on Writing Assessment, Montreal. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem et al. (11-1988). "The Politics of Mentoring: Failure of 'Commitment from the Top'" . Midwest Modern Language Association, St. Louis MO. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah Meem, Ayca Mazman, Christina Black, Christine Mok, Stephanie Sadre-Orafai (03-2014). Keynote Roundtable Discussion . Transforming Access, Univ of Cincinnati. UC. Level:University

Lecture

Deborah T. Meem (06-2111. ) Zones of Safety for LGBTQ Youth and Adults .EPA. Other Institution. Level:Regional

Paper Presentations

Deborah T. Meem (04-2007. ) "The Problem of Authority in Linton's Realities, or, Can a New Edition Rehabilitate an Old Failure?" .Lexington KY. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (06-2006. ) "Relative Power and its Correspondence to Political Theory in Lesbian Communities" .Oakland CA. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (03-2006. ) "Eliza Lynn Linton and Female Masculinity" .Gainesville FL. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (02-2002. ) “Not ‘Comic Books on Steroids’: The Function of Stereotypes in Alison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For" .Lousiville KY. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem and Jonathan Alexander (03-2001. ) Dorian Gray, Tom Ripley, and the Creative Closet .Louisville KY. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (02-2000. ) “Eliza Lynn Linton to the Contrary: Writing Against the 19th-Century Zeitgeist" .Richmond KY. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (02-1999. ) "Eliza Lynn Linton: Work in Progress" .Covington KY. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (12-1998. ) "Eliza Lynn Linton: A Centenary Re-Examination" .San Francisco CA. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem (04-1998. ) "Don't Get Me Wrong: 'História' and Personal Pedagogy" .Chicago IL. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (10-1997. ) "Clueless and Aimless in River Depths: The Melodramatic Butch-Femme Comedy of Mabel Maney" .Columbia SC. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (03-1997. ) "Confounding Pedagogy: Gender-Literate Students 'Reading' Lesbian Butch and Fem Teachers" .Phoenix AZ. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem and Michelle Gibson (02-1996. ) "Teaching, Typecasting, and Butch-Femme Identity" .Berea KY. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (03-1995. ) "Literacy as Survival in Dorothy Allison's Trash and Bastard Out of Carolina" .Washington DC. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (11-1994. ) "Eliza Lynn Linton and the Rise of Lesbian Consciousness" .Iowa City IA. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (10-1994. ) "Salome/Lorena and John the Baptist/Bobbitt: A Fin-de-Siècle Rumination" .Charlotte NC. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (03-1991. ) "Computers and Basic Writers: Results of a Five-Year Controlled Study" .Boston MA. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (03-1991. ) "Chee and McTavish: The Relationship of the Detective to the Supernatural" .South Bend IN. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (06-1990. ) "A Musical Poem of Life and Power: Susan Griffin's Dancing" .Akron OH. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (03-1990. ) "Computers and Collaboration in the Developmental Writing Classroom" .Boston MA. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (11-1989. ) "Feminism in Action: Teaching Our Daughters" .Bloomington IN. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (06-1989. ) "Hidden Agenda: The Subversive Message within Three Women's Sensation Novels" .Towson MD. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (02-1989. ) "Katherine Mansfield's Friendship with Virginia Woolf" .Raleigh NC. Conference. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (11-1988. ) "Epic Vision and Realization in Nineteenth-Century Women Writers" .St. Louis MO. Conference. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem, Anne Sisson Runyan, Amy Lind (04-2011. ) "Outside the Box: Transnationalizing Diversity Studies" .TUC . UC. Level:Regional

Deborah T. Meem (03-2010. ) "Literary Lesbian Domesticity at the Fin de Siecle: From Within and Without" .Berkeley CA. Other Institution. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem (04-2009. ) "What 'one woman could be to another:' Linton and Johnstone Setting the Terms in the 1880s and 90s" .Iowa City, IA. Other Institution. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem (11-2010. ) "X Studies: Naming conventions vis-a-vis women's studies as a discipline" .Denver CO. Professional Meeting. Level:National

Deborah T. Meem (11-2013. ) "Deciphering the (Im)Pure Body: (De)Sexualization, Objectification, and Body Politics under Neoliberal Capitalism" .Cincinnati, OH. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem (11-2013. ) "At the Corner of Theory and Praxis: Teaching Queer Studies at the College Level" .Cincinnati, OH. Conference. Level:International

Deborah T. Meem (11-2013. ) "Feminist Geek Culture" .Cincinnati, OH. Conference. Level:International

Event Organized

Writing for Justice: The Origins and Legacy of Uncle Tom's Cabin Conference 09-30-2011 10-02-2011 Cincinnati Public Library; National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; Cincinnati Museum Center; The Harriet Beecher Stowe House Level:National

INCS 2012: Picturing the 19th Century Conference 03-22-2012 03-25-2011 Lexington KY Level:International

Highsmith: Queer and Now Symposium 04-2016 UC Level:Regional

2011 Rainbow Outstanding Faculty Service Award, renamed the Meem/Gibson Outstanding Faculty Service Award UC LGBTQ Center Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

The Eric Hoffer Award for Independent Books Grand Prize, Reference Category, for "Finding Out:: An Introduction to LGBT Studies" The Eric Hoffer Project Status:Recipient Level:National Type:Non-Monetary

05-2015 Enduring Spirit Award for Scholarship and Activism Presented to Deborah Meem and Michelle Gibson by MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir in recognition of a career of service to our profession and to the community. MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir Status:Recipient Level:Local Type:Recognition

04-2015 WGSS Department Faculty Award WGSS Department, UC A&S Status:Recipient Level:Department Type:Recognition

UC Provost (Provost's Committee on Faculty Recruitment and Retention ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:University 2008 -2013

UC (UC Diversity Council ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:University 2007 -2012

LGBTQ Alliance Type:Service to Student Groups Level:University 2001 -2015

GenderBloc Type:Service to Student Groups Level:University 2009 -2015

Women's Club Lacrosse Type:Service to Student Groups Level:University 2007 -2015

Charles Phelps Taft Foundation (Conferences & Competitive Lectures Awards Committee ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2007 -2012

WGSS Department (Graduate Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2006 -2015

WGSS Department (Advisory Council ) Committee Chair Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2008 -2015

National Women's Studies Association (Program Admin & Devel Advisory Council/budget task force ) Committee Member Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2010 -To Present

Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Advisory Board ) Board Member Type:Community Service Level:Regional 2011 -2013

Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Planning Committee for Fall 2011 Conference ) Conference Organizer Type:Community Service Level:Regional 2009 -2011

Woodrow Wilson Foundation (Fellowship application review ) Committee Member Type:Grant Panel Level:International 1994 -2012

WGSS (Department Head ) Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2008 -2015

(A&S Dean's Executive Committee ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 09-2012 -2013

Charles Phelps Taft Research Center (ad hoc Structures Committee ) Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 02-2013 -09-2013

University Honors Council Member Type:University/College Service Level:University 09-2013 -To Present

Charles Phelps Taft Center (Executive Board ) Board Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 08-2013 -12-2013

Dean's Budget & Planning Subcommittee Committee Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2013 -To Present

Journal of Homosexuality Peer Review/Referee Type:Editorial Service Level:International 2012 -To Present

15-WGS-332 UNCLE TOM & AM CULT Level:Undergraduate

15-WGS-360 LGBT STUDIES Level:Both

Feminist Research Level:Graduate

Lesbian Literature and Psychology Level:Both

15-WGS-360 LGBT STUDIES Level:Undergraduate

Feminist Research Level:Graduate

LGBT Seminar Level:Both

Lesbian Literature & Psychology Level:Both

Outrageous Writings by Women Level:Undergraduate

QUEER STUDIES Level:Undergraduate

-WGS-3044 INTERRACIALISM Level:Undergraduate

QUEER STUDIES SEMINAR Level:Graduate