Marlene Longenecker

President of National Women's Studies Association, 1989-1991

What is Marlene Longenecker known for?

Marlene Blaney Longenecker (August 24, 1945 – December 25, 2014) was an esteemed American college professor and literary scholar known for her significant contributions in the field of women's studies. Born in Santa Monica, California, she was a proud alumni of Arcadia High School, graduating in 1963.

Longenecker pursued her academic interests at the University of California at Riverside, earning her bachelor's degree in 1967. Following her undergrad, her thirst for knowledge led her to the University at Buffalo where she completed her PhD in 1973. Her dissertation, titled "The Landscape of Home: Wordsworth and Melville", showcases her scholastic proficiency.

In 1972, Longenecker joined the English department at Ohio State University, where she spent decades shaping minds and nurturing talents. Her specialized areas of study included British literature, particularly Romantic poetry, and her work significantly highlighted feminist theory and ecofeminism. She served as the director of Ohio State's Center for Women's Studies from 1980 to 1986 and retired in 2008.

Outside academia, Longenecker held prominent roles such as being the chair of the National Women's Studies Association from 1989 to 1991. She was also actively involved in the civil rights and anti-war movements from the 1960s and worked as a chief of staff for Dagmar Braun Celeste, the wife of then-Ohio governor Dick Celeste.

Longenecker passed away in 2014 in Redlands, California. In her memory, Ohio State University has instituted the Dr. Marlene B. Longenecker English Faculty Teaching and Leadership Award to honor her significant impact on the institution and the field of women's studies.