Theo Fox (he/him) is a PhD student in English at York University, where he also completed both his MA (‘19) and his Spec. Hon. BA (‘18). He specializes in drama, Renaissance literature, and representations of the disabled bodymind on early modern and modern stages. His doctoral research uses the lens of critical disability studies to problematize the relationship between metaphor and disability, disease and perceived deviance, and narrative and national memory. Theo also focuses on the codification of disability in literary tradition, and thus his work seeks to illustrate how contemporary theories and models of disability studies provide a vital opportunity for literary illustrations of resistance, self-definition, and autonomous counter-narratives.

Theo’s teaching philosophy centers on the principles of equity, access, and curiosity. Students in his classroom are encouraged to actively create their own interventions in the field, using their unique perspectives and/or lived experiences to generate ideas that challenge historically privileged narrative interpretations. He hopes to model and instill an equitable, growth-centric approach to teaching and learning, an approach guided by his belief that difference and divergence are pedagogical resources, not challenges. Above all, he believes that education must be transformative and socially responsible. Through teaching practices that support a range of student experiences and abilities, his classroom enables students to pursue excellence, not perfection, and challenges them to develop curiosity and passion about the field of literary studies in order to become critical interpreters in their own right.

Theo also has a background in creative and commercial writing, having previously worked in copywriting and communications, and is passionate about accessibility and knowledge mobilization.

Email address: theodorefox4@gmail.com