Rate My Professor Joanne Gabbin

James Madison University

Literature English and Literature Creative Writing and Poetry Literary Theory Literature

5.0

1 review · out of 5

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5.04/23/2026

Encourages students to think creatively.

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About Joanne

Joanne V. Gabbin is a Professor of English at James Madison University, where she has made profound contributions to the study of Literature, particularly African American poetry. She earned her B.A. in English from Morgan State College in 1967, followed by an M.A. in English in 1970 and a Ph.D. in English and Literature from the University of Chicago in 1980. Her academic career began as an instructor of English at Roosevelt University in 1971, followed by assistant professor positions at Chicago State University from 1972 to 1974 and Lincoln University from 1977, advancing to associate professor at Lincoln in 1982. She also served as program director and instructor at Catalyst for Youth, Inc. from 1973 to 1975. Gabbin joined James Madison University in 1985 as associate professor of English and was promoted to full professor in 1989. She directed the JMU Honors Program from 1986 to 2004, during which it became the Honors College. In 1987, she helped form the Wintergreen Women Writers’ Collective. In 1994, she organized the first academic conference on black poetry, "Furious Flower: A Revolution in African American Poetry," which prompted her to found the Furious Flower Poetry Center in 1999, serving as its executive director.