Curriculum Vitae

DR. JOSEPH OZIAS

earned his PhD in English, Literary and Cultural Studies from the University of Cincinnati. His research interests include Joseph Heller, Philip Roth, Jewish American Literature, humor, 20th Century American Literature, multiethnic literature, and film and media studies. His work on these subjects has recently been published, or is soon to be published, in Philip Roth Studies, MELUS, In Media Res, Women's Writing (Taylor & Francis) and The John Updike Review. He is working on an article for a forthcoming special issue of Journal of Jewish Identities (for which the proposal has been accepted). He has received various literary awards, like the Judith Yaross Lee Publication Grant from the American Humor Studies Association, the John Updike Review Emerging Writers Prize and the Siegel/McDaniel Award from the Philip Roth Society. For nearly a decade he has been teaching courses such as World Literature, American Literature, Topics in Science Fiction, English Composition, Intermediate Composition, Jews in American Film, and more. He is the winner of the 2024 William C. Boyce Award for Outstanding Teaching. If you want to discuss his work, you can contact him via LinkedIn or email him directly.

2025 || PhD in English, Literary and Cultural Studies

University of Cincinnati

Dissertation: The Jewish Imposition: Tracing the Burden of Representation Through Jewish American Literature

An exploration of the ways in which four authors are charged to represent their Jewishness and how they responded in various ways; this dissertation explores not just their reactions, but also their influence on each other’s responses, beginning with Joseph Heller, then his influence on Philip Roth, then Roth’s influence on Taffy Brodesser-Akner, then her influence on Melissa Broder.

Committee: Jennifer Glaser (chair), Gary Weissman, James Schiff, Jennifer Caplan

2022 || Film and Media Studies Certificate

University of Cincinnati

2020 || MA in English, Literary History

Ohio University

Master’s Project: “‘She Demands Connection:’ Past, People, and Place in Cynthia Ozick’s The Puttermesser Papers.” An article length exploration of Cynthia Ozick’s The Puttermesser Papers, arguing for a thematic coherence that prior scholarship has not acknowledged and criticism has incorrectly claimed is nonexistent.

Advisor: Paul Jones

2017 || BA in English, minor in Spanish and Philosophy, with Honors, SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Ohio Dominican University

Honors Project: "Joseph Heller and the Errors of Comedy." In this undergraduate Honors thesis I began asking questions that pave the way for my eventual dissertation. While I here focus on comedy and later on Jewishness, resistance, heritage, and representation, I owe my budding interests to this long-form undergraduate project.

Advisor: Kelsey Squire

~ Indicates that I created all course materials (reading list, assignments, syllabus, etc.) myself

+ Indicates that I originated the course as well as created all course materials myself

* Indicates online section

2024 || Instructor

Wilmington College (Lebanon Correctional Facility) || Lebanon, OH

~Developmental English. One section (Summer 2024). This course helps students pave the way for Writing I (equivalent to most freshman composition courses).

~First-Year Experience. One section (Fall 2024). This course helps students adjust to the life of a college student as well as help them prepare for things like exams, reading loads, and more.

2020-2025 || Teaching Assistant, Instructor of Record

The University of Cincinnati || Cincinnati, OH

~English Composition. Five sections (Fall 2020*, Spring 2021, Summer 2021*, Fall 2021, Summer 2022*). This course emphasizes critical reading, writing, and textual analysis with particular focus on argument and research-based writing.

Intermediate Composition. Two sections (Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025*). Intermediate Composition is a writing-centered course that builds on what students learn in first-year composition and focuses students’ attention on theoretical underpinning of how meaning is made, understood, and communicated within and across various discourse communities and genres.

~American Literature Survey I. One section (Fall 2024). This course surveys the first half of American literature, from its origins to 1900, emphasizing major literary figures, trends, issues, and genres of the historical period.

~American Literature Survey II. One section (Spring 2025). This course surveys the second half of American literature, from 1900 to the present, emphasizing major literary figures, trends, issues, and genres of the historical period.

+Topics in Science Fiction. One section (Summer 2023*). In this course, we will read a number of important 21st century science fiction texts as well as explore some of science fiction’s roots and examine how the genre has changed over time, discussing what they might teach us about the society we live in today.

+Topics in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. One section (Summer 2024*). In this course, we will read (and watch) a number of important 21st century science fiction and fantasy texts as well as explore some of their roots and examine how the genres have changed, and merged, over time, discussing what they might teach us about the society we live in today.

~World Literature I. One section (Fall 2024). This course is a comparative study of literature from Africa, the Americas, Asia as well as Europe. The class will concentrate on contemporary world literature as it shapes and reacts to national and global identities.

~World Literature II. Two sections (Fall 2022, Spring 2023). This course is a comparative study of literature from Africa, the Americas, Asia as well as Europe. In this course, students will explore World Literature of the 20th and 21st centuries post-World War II.

~Jews in American Film / Topics in Film & Media Studies / Topics in Film. One section (Fall 2023). In this course, students will explore contemporary films by Jewish directors and consider larger questions posed by these films and their genres; questions about love, war, belief, life, death, existence, and one’s place in the world—and just how unusually entertaining it can be to try to figure these things out. We will watch films by a diverse range of directors and explore how they tackle such themes.

Intro to Disability Literature Guest Lecturer (Fall 2023). Lectured students on Jewish identity in Riva Lehrer’s Golem Girl.

2018-2020 || Teaching Associate, Instructor of Record

Ohio University || Athens, OH

~Writing and Rhetoric I. Five sections (Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020*). This course focuses on analysis as in the search for meaningful patterns [and] emphasizes practice and reflection . . . we will also [read] texts that increase our . . . ability to consider, understand, respect, and empathize with the values, beliefs, practices, and needs of diverse members of society.

2021—2023 || Medical Student Tutor

University of Cincinnati

Tutored medical students in writing personal statements/statements of purpose.

2020—2024 || Writing Tutor

University of Cincinnati

Tutored students in writing and English.

2017—2018 || Assistant Coordinator of the Academic Resource and Writing Centers

Ohio Dominican University

Trained tutors, developed training sessions, and conducted workshops
Entered time sheets, made appointments, and performed other desk duties
Sat on hiring committee for Math Lab Coordinator and ran trial peer tutor sessions
Performed data analysis (tracking number/types of students, courses, and successes)
Created end-of-year portfolio for faculty meeting
Created handouts for ARC, Writing Center, and Math Lab

2016—2018 || Level 2 CRLA Certified English Tutor

Ohio Dominican University

Tutored over 300 students (for 153+ hours) from undergraduate and MA programs
Tutored writing, English, Spanish and Philosophy
Gained hours of experience in working with ESL students in particular

2017 || ESL Program Assistant

Tokyo Technical College and Ohio Dominican University

Co-led group of Japanese students in studying English and American culture
Aided in teaching them English and for a select few, Spanish
Took them on local excursions and on-campus activities

2025 || Newsletter Editor

Philip Roth Society

2024-2025 || Theme Week Coordinator

In Media Res

“Anxious Love, Anxious Laughter: The Art of Comedy in American Jewish Films.”

2024- || Bibliography Compiler

Philip Roth Studies

2024 || Member of Intermediate Composition (ENGL 2089) Assessment Team

University of Cincinnati

Investigated how (and whether) we are meeting our stated learning outcomes for the course at the University

2018—2020 || Reader for Parlour

Ohio University

Served as a reader for Parlour, a literary magazine at Ohio University.

2017—2018 || Co-Editor for Gesture

Ohio Dominican University

Read submitted materials and made submission decisions

Aided in cover design, interior layout, submitter bios, and more

2016—2018 || President of Sigma Tau Delta (αλν Chapter)

Ohio Dominican University

Ran the organization for two years

Organized meetings, events, and more for the English department

2025 || William C. Boyce Award for Outstanding Teaching Nominee

2024 || The John Updike Review Emerging Writers Prize

2024 || Second Place for the Robin Sheets Critical Essay Prize

2024 || William C. Boyce Award for Outstanding Teaching Winner

2024 || Taft Graduate Student Travel Award

2023 || The Philip Roth Society Travel Award

2023 || William C. Boyce Award for Outstanding Teaching Nominee

2022 || Judith Yaross Lee Publication Grant: Awarded by the American Humor Studies Association to graduate students who work with mentors in the field to publish an article on some aspect of American humor

2021 || Siegel McDaniel Award: Awarded by the Philip Roth Society to excellent papers on Roth

2021 || William C. Boyce Award for Outstanding Teaching Nominee

2019 || Research Assistant Travel Award

2017 || Outstanding English Major

2017 || Outstanding Spanish Minor

2017 || Level Two CRLA Certification

2016 || Level One CRLA Certification

Below is a quick overview of all my publications, inclusive of all types (book reviews, journal articles, web publications, etc). As they move from in press to publication, they will be updated to link to the piece.