Faculty
Dr. Olivia Burgess
Associate Professor of English
Contact Information:
Ernst 133(804) 862-6100 ext. 6294
oburgess@rbc.edu
Education & Publications:
Undergraduate:
BA in English, Texas State UniversityGraduate:
MA in English, Texas A&M UniversityDoctorate:
PhD in English, Texas A&M UniversityPublications:
Select Publications:"Interdisciplinary Collaboration for a New Humanities and a New Engineer," a book chapter in Writing Steam: Composition, STEAM, and a New Humanities, 2022
"Stand Where You Stand on Omelas: An Activity for Teaching Ethics with Science Fiction, Teaching Ethics, 2020
"Cyborg Teaching: The Transferable Benefits of Teaching Online for the F2F Classroom," Journal of Online Teaching and Learning, 2015
"Get Happy: Play and the Utopian Imagination in Mark Osborne's More," Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature, 2014
"Revolutionary Bodies in Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club," Utopian Studies, 2012
Bio:
Dr. Olivia Burgess began her college education with two years at Wharton County Junior College before transferring to Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, where received her B.A. in English. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in English at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Her research interests include utopian theory, science fiction, first-year composition, and technical and scientific writing. She has published on Fight Club as a utopian narrative, online writing pedagogy, teaching ethics with science fiction, and writing for engineers.
Dr. Burgess’ teaching career has focused on general education writing and humanities courses for non-majors, first-year students, and STEM students. Before joining Richard Bland College, she taught writing at three different STEM institutions. At Colorado School of Mines, she directed the first-year writing program and worked on a six-person team to develop and teach the first-year honors program.
After spending two years as a full-time professional writer and science editor, Dr. Burgess joined the English faculty at Richard Bland College in Fall 2025. She was drawn to the college’s commitment to student success, the collegiality of the faculty, and the beautiful campus.
When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family and three Australian Shepherds. She’s also a triathlete, trail runner, and weightlifter and looks forward to exploring the state of Virginia.
