About

I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor of 19th and 20th Century Anglophone Literature in the Department of English at the University of Iowa. I earned my PhD from the Department of English at the University of Virginia, where I was a Fellow at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation from 2020 to 2025. I also serve as the Founder of the Global Decadence Lab in the Decadence Research Centre at Goldsmiths, University of London, and as a Co-Director for Undisciplining the Victorian Classroom, a digital publication focused on producing peer-reviewed curricular materials.

I was born and raised in the former British colony of Hong Kong, and also spent my formative years in Vancouver, Canada. Beyond my academic work, I enjoy playing my guitar, swimming, and yoga. I also enjoy circulating amongst the many artistic and literary communities in Iowa City, particularly Prairie Lights and the Wright House of Fashion.

My surname, Kwok (郭), is pronounced like the word "walk," but with an added "k" sound at the beginning.

You can reach me at drcherriekwok@proton.me

Last Updated: November 2025

Header image: Sam photographing Maya photographing me, Richmond, Virginia. Photo credit: Sam Joseph.