Eden Wales Freedman Ph.D.

Following a national search, Eden was appointed academic vice president, dean of faculty and professor of arts and sciences in 2023 to oversee the faculty, academic departments and academic support services. Previously, Eden served as vice president for academic affairs, dean of faculty and professor of English at Clarke University in Iowa; vice provost for academic affairs and associate professor at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota; and division chair of communication, literature and arts at Mount Mercy University in Iowa, where she became a tenured English professor.

Eden is an accomplished teacher-scholar with expertise in American literature, race, gender, trauma and reception theories. Her pedagogical excellence has been recognized through multiple teaching awards, and her book, Reading Testimony, Witnessing Trauma (UP Mississippi, 2020), won the Eudora Welty Prize for its innovative approach to literature. Eden is an active member of her community. She regularly offers public lectures and workshops and has served on multiple boards. She is the chair-elect of New Hampshire Women in Higher Education. Eden received her B.A. in English and political science from Swarthmore College, M.A. in literature from Boston College and Ph.D. in literature from the University of New Hampshire. Outside of work, she loves to read and write, explore new places and spend time with her husband, Matthew, and dog, Sawyer.