— Biography from the 2020 Fall Commencement program —

Dr. Flynn received his B.A. in American Literature in 1987 from George Washington University in Washington, DC. While working as the director of the law library for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association, he earned an M.A. in Literature (Creative Writing emphasis in Poetry) in 1980 from American University in Washington, DC and returned to George Washington, where he earned the M. Phil. (1984) and the Ph.D. (1987) in American Literature. He taught full time at Indiana State University in Terre Haute from 1988-1990. From 1990 to 2020, he was a member of the English faculty at Georgia Southern, specializing in modern and contemporary poetry and children’s literature. Several of his former students have achieved success and national recognition in the academy. He has published two books, Randall Jarrell and the Lost World of Childhood (University of Georgia Press, 1990), which was named a 1992 Outstanding Academic Book by Choice, and a collection of poems, The Age of Reason (Hawkhead Press, 1993), over 30 articles and book chapters, over 30 book reviews, and over 70 conference presentations and invited talks. From 2004-2009, he was the editor-in-chief of The Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, one of the leading journals in the field. Georgia Southern recognized his scholarship with the 2002-2003 Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarly Activity. He has also received four summer seminar research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Dr. Flynn has been active in national, university, and college service, serving terms on the MLA Division on Children’s Literature and the Executive Board of the Children’s Literature Association. During five terms on the Faculty Senate, he held the offices of Chair of the Senate Executive Committee and Moderator of the Faculty Senate, Secretary, and Librarian. He also served several terms on the University Graduate Committee, including two terms as its Chair. In 2018, he received the Award for Excellence in Service from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. In recognition of his distinguished contributions, Dr. Richard Flynn has earned the title of Professor Emeritus of Literature.*