Rate My Professor Heidi Breuer

Heidi Breuer is an Associate Professor of Literature and Writing Studies in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences at California State University, San Marcos. She earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Arizona, where her dissertation focused on gendering magic in medieval and early modern England. Prior to that, she received a Master’s degree in English from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree in English and Biology from Florida Southern College. Breuer's academic career at CSUSM emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to literature, integrating historical contexts with contemporary cultural analysis.

Breuer specializes in medieval and Renaissance literature, with particular emphasis on the history and literature of witches and witchcraft. Her research extends to speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror; monsters and monster theory; popular culture; comics and graphic novels; intersectional feminist theory; sexuality studies; film studies; and children’s literature. She is the author of Crafting the Witch: Gendering Magic in Medieval and Early Modern England (Routledge, 2009), a key publication examining how literary texts from these eras constructed gendered representations of magical figures. Breuer has contributed chapters to edited volumes, such as those in Witchcraft and the Supernatural, and articles including “Being Intolerant: Rape Is Not Seduction (in The Reeve's Tale or Anywhere Else).” Her work has been presented at conferences, including discussions on compulsory maternity in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Weird Western genre. In recognition of her commitment to students, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis, Breuer was nominated by her students as a campus hero for providing exceptional support. She participates in faculty readings, writing discussions, and serves as an expert on topics like zombies and horror in popular culture. Breuer's teaching includes courses on Arthurian romance, Anglo-Saxon literature, and modern adaptations like Game of Thrones, fostering critical engagement with literature across genres and eras.