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Melissa Jensen

(she/her/hers)

Fisher-Bennett Hall 319
215-898-7357

Office Hours

spring 2024

T 12-3 and by appointment

Melissa Jensen is an award-winning writer of historical and contemporary fiction. Most recently, her Young Adult novels have been official selections on such lists as New York Public Library's Teen Reading and FYA. She is currently working on the fourth and final book in her Philadelphia novel series and a play centered around bog bodies and Irish rap music, as well as participating in an ongoing multi-media project exploring the connection between anthropology, archaeology, and literature. “Broken Siren”, a contemporary work for string ensemble and soprano based on Homer’s Odyssey, for which she wrote the libretto, debuted in 2020, to be followed by Carmilla from the Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu novella. She has contributed to numerous print media, including Philadelphia Style Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In recent years, she has divided much of her time between Philadelphia and Dublin, all the better to be immersed in the worlds of really really good fiction and poetry, and fascinating stuff unearthed from underground. 

Publications

Courses Taught

spring 2025

ENGL 0775.301 The Living Dead  

fall 2024

ENGL 2355.401 Happily Ever After?  

spring 2024

fall 2023

ENGL 0372.301 Juvenilia  

summer 2023

spring 2023

fall 2022

summer 2022

spring 2022

fall 2021

summer 2021

spring 2021

fall 2020

spring 2020

fall 2019

summer 2019

spring 2019

fall 2018

summer 2018

spring 2018

fall 2017

spring 2017

fall 2016

summer 2016

spring 2016

fall 2015

ENGL 121.601 Writing for Children  

spring 2014

fall 2013

spring 2012

fall 2011

ENGL 121.601 Writing for T(w)eens  

fall 2010

ENGL 121.601 Writing for T(w)eens  

fall 2009

ENGL 121.601 Writing for T(w)een Readers