I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor of 19th and 20th Century Anglophone Literature in the Department of English and a Researcher Affiliate (by courtesy) in the Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) 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; a Co-Director for Undisciplining the Victorian Classroom, a digital publication focused on producing peer-reviewed curricular materials; and Chair of the Aestheticism and Decadence Caucus at the North American Victorian Studies Association. My work is published, or forthcoming, in Volupté: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Decadence Studies, Victorian Studies, Humanities, and more.
I was born and raised in the former British colony of Hong Kong, and I also have roots in Vancouver, Canada. Beyond my academic work, I enjoy playing my guitar, swimming, and yoga, and am training for a half-marathon later this year. 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. My institutional email address is cherrie-kwok@uiowa.edu. My personal email address is drcherriekwok@proton.me
Last Updated: March 2026