ROBERT L POWELL

Curriculum vitae

19 JEROME ST. UPPER FLOOR

TORONTO ON, M6P 1H8, CANADA

1 (416) 932-0590

robert.l.powell@icloud.com || rl-powell.com

EDUCATION

2024          M.F.A. (currently deferred), Writing and Literature, Bennington College, VR 05201-6003

2022          Phd. (Departed ABD, in good standing) English, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, CANADA

2015          M.A., English Language and Literature, Queen’s University, Kingston ON, CANADA

2014          B.A.(Hons) Awarded with High Distinction, English Specialist, Minor Paradigms and Archetypes, . University of Toronto, Toronto ON, CANADA

EMPLOYMENT

2024–26   Founding Editor-in-chief, APROSEXIA LIT, Toronto ON, CANADA.

AREAS OF RESEARCH

20th century American literatures; Contemporary American poetry American and Anglo modernisms; History and Philosophy of Science; American pragmatism; aspects of theory; the epistemology of reading; mad studies

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles

“Take Me At My Word: Environments of (Mis)Trust in Jeanette Winterson’s The Passion.”

               IDIOM English Undergraduate Academic Journal. 8 (2014): 42-48.

Literary Periodicals

“An Odd Couplet :: Re-set the table, to co-opt the entire conversation.” the engine(idling. 8: collage. Feb, 2026.

             digital.

“An Odd Couplet :: About That Boy and Table.” the engine(idling. 8: collage. Feb, 2026. digital.

“call to our lips / to make pale atoms of our nights.” the engine(idling. 8: collage. Feb, 2026. digital.

“the gauge left to battery a phone call [. . .]”  Scavengers Lit Mag. 2026. print.

“Detections that follow / misread lines in a marriage.” junq magazine. Feb, 2026. print. 

“The take-home at the new box-office barely covers the cost of admission.” Effervescent. fifth wheel press.

            Nov, 2025. digital.

“iii. without warning, a pitch of desire,” The Inflectionist Review. Oct, 2025. online.

“consider reducing the journey at large—[. . .]” The Argyle. Sept, 2025. online.

“upon the return from the ATM,” junq magazine. 3. Nov, 2024. print. 

“always and still, leagues above,” Impossible Archetype. 16. Aug, 2024. digital.

“My Suburbia Was a Woodland.” The Rising Phoenix Review. Jan, 2024. online. 

“Frost.” The Eunoia Review. Dec, 2023. online. 

“And the Sea Brags of its Shells.” Haven Spec. 11. Nov, 2023. digital.

“Are Bright Things to Pray For.” Impossible Archetype. 14. Aug, 2023. digital.

“Five Characters.” The Rumen. Jul, 2023. online. 

“Hurt.” The Rumen. Jul, 2023. online. 

Journalism

“Edward Burtynsky: Oil at the ROM.” The HuffPo. 29 May, 2011. online.

“AbEx: Masterpieces From The Museum of Modern Art.” The HuffPo. 31 May, 2011. online. 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

2021 Doctoral Completion Award (CAD9,500)

2020 Summer Thesis Fellowship (CAD5,000)

2020 University of Toronto Fellowship (CAD18,000)

2019 University of Toronto Fellowship (CAD17,500)

2018 University of Toronto Fellowship (CAD17,000)

2017 University of Toronto Fellowship (CAD19,900)

2016 University of Toronto Fellowship (CAD20,500)

2016 Viola Whitney Pratt Memorial OSOTF Scholarship in English (CAD2,500)

2014 Queen’s University Department of English Entrance Award (CAD2,500)

2014 Queen’s Graduate Award (CAD5,000)

2014 Winston and Stephanie Ling Award in English (CAD1,882)

2014 Principal Mariel O'Neill-Karch Legacy Scholarship (CAD1,500)

2014 Christopher Wallis Undergraduate Scholarship in English (CAD924)

2013 Angela and Giulio Zigrossi Memorial Scholarship in the Humanities (CAD507)

2013 Marion and Ross Woodman Award (CAD3,775)

2012 Walter O'Grady Undergraduate Scholarship in English (CAD3,809)

2012 Christopher Wallis Undergraduate Scholarship in English (CAD1,849)

2011 Walter O'Grady Undergraduate Scholarship in English (CAD3,731)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistantships (Tutorial Leader), University of Toronto

2023         ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                   ENG263 Play & Games

                   ENG102 How to Research Literature

2022         ENG280(S) Critical Approaches to Literature

                   ENG280(F) Critical Approaches to Literature

                   ENG279 Video Games

                   ENG250 Introduction to American Literature

2021         ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                   ENG250 Introduction to American Literature

                   ENG101 How to Read Critically

2020          ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                    ENG250 Introduction to American Literature

                    ENG102 How to Research Literature

2019          ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                    ENG102 How to Research Literature

Teaching Assistantships (Grading and Mentorship), University of Toronto

2022          ENGC78 Dystopian Visions in Fiction and Film

2020          ENG237 Science Fiction

2019          ENG100 E!ective Writing

2018          ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                    ENGA10 Introduction to Twentieth Century Literature and Film: 1890 to World War II

2017          ENG239 Fantasy and Horror

                    ENG237 Science Fiction

                    ENG280 Critical Approaches to Literature

                    ENGA10 Introduction to Twentieth Century Literature and Film: 1890 to World War II

2016          ENG239 Fantasy and Horror

                    ENG237 Science Fiction

Teaching Assistantship (Grading and Mentorship), Queen’s University

2014          English 160: Modern and Contemporary Prose Fiction

ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

2018           Second-Year Cohort Representative, Graduate English Association, University of Toronto

2017           Student Representative, Department of English Curriculum Advisory Committee

2017           First-Year Cohort Representative, Graduate English Association, University of Toronto

2015           English Department Graduate Student Representative, Queen’s University

2015           Society of Graduate and Professional Students Advisory Committee, Queen’s University

RELATED PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Freelance editor (editing, copy-editing, and proofreading)

Public speaker (on or around topics of rhetoric; written argumentation; academic lesson planning)

Communications consultant (preparation and/or delivery of specialized research, and education

materials for STEM and medical professionals directed to non-specialist and/or generalized

audiences)

NON-ACADEMIC WORK EXPERIENCE

7 years experience as certified rehabilitative, functional strength & movement specialist

Fully-certified Pilates trainer & therapist, inclusive of all specialized equipment

6 years experience as professional sommelier, wine consultant.

WSET-certified wine educator

LANGUAGES

English (fluent; native)

French (intermediate reading, writing, and translation; good speaking)

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)

Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English (ACCUTE)

The Canadian Society for the Study of Rhetoric (RHETCAN)

The Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science (CSHPS)

Film and Media Studies Association of Canada (FMSAC)

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture (EPTC)