Barbara Paul-Emile

Barbara Paul-Emile

  • Professor Emeritus, English and Media Studies
  • Maurice E. Goldman Distinguished Professor of Arts & Sciences ,
  • Ph.D. University of Colorado-Boulder
  • MA New York University
  • BA New York University

Teaching Interests

Mythology & Folklore;
Caribbean Literature;
English Romanticism
European Tradition
Ethnic literature/ American Minorities;

Research Interests

Creative Writing: Fiction & Poetry;
Caribbean Literature;
Mythology & Folklore;
English Romanticism

Consulting/Practice Interests

Short Story & Poetry Readings;
Public Talks: The Hero in Myth & Folklore;
The Spirit of the Warrior Woman;
Caribbean & Afro Am. Cultural Themes;
Facing Life's Challenges: Motivational

Bio

Barbara Paul-Emile, Professor of English and the inaugural Maurice E. Goldman Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University 2000 – 2015, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado - Boulder, and MA and BA degrees from New York University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Paul-Emile’s work centers on 19thc English Romantic Literature, Myth, and Caribbean Literature. She served as a member of the faculty at University of Colorado – Boulder at Vassar College, and as the Associate Director, and later Research Fellow, at the Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute, (presently, Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study) Harvard University.


Dr. Paul-Emile, first African-American to be tenured and to be promoted to full professor at Bentley University, was named Massachusetts Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation and by the Council for the Support and Advancement of Education. She was honored by the University of Massachusetts, receiving its Distinguished Scholar Award. She was also awarded Bentley University’s highest teaching honor: The Adamian Award for Teaching Excellence, and is a four-time winner of the Teaching Innovation Award, a two-time winner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, and the recipient of several publication awards.


Dr. Paul-Emile was selected by the Women of Harvard Club Committee as an honoree for demonstrated leadership and outstanding achievement at their 3rd Annual Boston’s Most Influential Women’s Award Ceremony, 2014.


Building travel components into her courses, Dr. Paul-Emile leads 16 classes to several international destinations such as Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and the Caribbean, among others. She has offered innumerable papers at academic conferences and has been engaged in extensive creative writing which includes publication of the novel, Seer, winner of the Chelson Award, and a collection of visionary and contemplative poems, The Dance of Life: Poems for the Spirit. In 2015, she published Mosaic: A Collection of Caribbean Short Fiction. Presently, she is composing a collection of visionary poems and completing a scholarly review of the poetry of the English Romantics: Slavery and the Romantic Vision: Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey.

Professional Links

Professional Memberships

  • Caribbean Institute Association Present
  • Caribbean Studies Association Present
  • International Guild of Women Writers Present
  • International Society for the Study of European Ideas (ISSEI) Executive Committee Present
  • Phi Beta Kappa Present

    • Awards and Honors

  • 2020, Adamian Lifetime Teaching Excellence Award, Bentley University
  • 2016, Valente Center Research Fellow, Bentley University
  • 2016, Honoree amongst Bentley Leaders - Library Exhibit , Bentley University
  • 2016, Nominated for the Dr. Gregory Adamian Award for lifetime teaching excellence., Bentley University
  • 2016, Participation in Centennial Video celebrating Bentley's 100th Anniversary, Bentley University
  • 2014, Boston's Most Influential Women Honoree, 2014, Women of Harvard Club
  • 2010, Martin Luther king Jr. Leadership Award, Bentley University
  • 2007, Publication Award, Bentley University
  • 2005, Chelson Award for Fiction: SEER. a novel., First World Publishing
  • 2005, Publication Award, Bentley University
  • 2005, Publication Award, Bentley University
  • 2004, Maurice E. Goldman First Distinguished Chair in the Arts and Sciences,
  • 2001, Caribbean Literary Achievers, COJO (Coalition of Jamaican Organizations)
  • 2001, Teaching Innovation Award, Bentley College
  • 1998, ALANA Faculty Award
  • 1998, Teaching Innovation Award, Bentley College
  • 1996, Publications Award, Bentley College
  • 1995, Martin Luther King Faculty Award, Bentley College
  • 1995, Massachusetts Professor of the Year - Carnegie Foundation & Council for the Advancement & Support of Education (CASE)
  • 1995, The Adamian Award for Teaching Excellence, Bentley College
  • 1995, Massachusetts Professor of the Year, Carnegie Foundation & Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
  • 1992, Publications Award, Bentley College
  • 1992, Teaching Innovation Award, Bentley College
  • 1991, Distinguished Scholar Award: Honoring Black Scholars in New England, University of Massachusetts
  • 1979, Faculty Recognition Award: Black Student Alliance, Vassar College
  • 1962, Phi Beta Kappa, New York University

    • Publications

    Journal Articles

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2020). Juneteenth – Black Emancipation in Texas. Bentley’s Marketing & Communication Office, University & Alumni.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2006). Honoring Diversity: Self-Discovery and the 'Voice of the Other' in Selected African American and Caribbean Works. The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, (vol. 5) 15
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1999). Warrior Woman Takes Her Stance. Branchee Journal.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1995). Gender Dynamics in James' Minty Alley. CLR James: His Intellectual Legacies.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1994). William Wordsworth: An English Romantic Poet's Response to Colonialism. History of European Ideas, (19) Nos 4-6, August 1994 627-633.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1986). Robert Southey's Social Commentary: Blacks and the English Poor. The New England Social Studies Bulletin, (44) No. 1, Fall 1986 12-15.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1977). Wordsworth and Slavery. The Academic Quarterly, (5) No. 2 81-95.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1975). Blacks in Captivity: Robert Southey's Response. UMOJA: A Journal of Black Experience, (2) No 1
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1974). Coleridge as Abolitionist. A Review of International English Literature (ARIEL), (5) No.2 59-75.

    Books

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2015). Mosaic: Caribbean Short Fiction Collection. (Link)
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2005). THE DANCE OF LIFE: POEMS FOR THE SPIRIT w/CD. 158. Fairfield, Iowa, USA: Eunoia Press (Link)
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2004). SEER. 235. Fairfield, Iowa: Sunstar Publishing Ltd (Link)

    • Book Chapters

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1997). Connecting with Literature: The Art of Involvement In Roth, John K, (Eds.) . 34-43. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co

    • Book Reviews

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2003). [Review of the book Latino Literature Today: An Anthology of Hispanic American Literature ]. Longman Publishers.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1990). [Review of the book Caribbean Women Writers: Essays from the First International Conference, by Selwyn Cudjoe ]. University of Massachusetts Press.
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1974). [Review of the book Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies ]. University of Colorado.

    • Conference Proceedings

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2007). Slavery and the Romantic Vision: William Wordsworth and Robert Southey Towson university and Loyola College , (International Conference on Romanticism)

    • Presentations

  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2021). “Invited Speaker” Presented at the Social Justice Group Juneteenth Celebration Berlin, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2021). Presented at the MLK Jr. Celebration Bentley University
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2021). “Delivered Faculty Address to Bentley’s Freshman Class of 2025” Presented at the Bentley University Freshman Class of 2025 Orientation Waltham, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2019). “Haitian Revolution: Thomas Clarkson and the English Romantics”
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2019). “Perspectives on Living a Visionary Life” Presented at the Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Event Berlin, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2019). “The Dance of Life: Poems for the Spirit” Presented at the Carter Community Arts Center Afternoon of Reading Berlin, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2018). “Caribbean Emancipatory Thought: Haiti and the English Romantic Poets” Presented at theCaribbean Studies Conference Havana, Cuba
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2016). “Living in Difficult Times: Part 2”
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2016). “Haiti : Plce, Nation, Idea: Correspondence Between Henri Christophe & Thomas Clarkson, 1813-1820” Presented at theCarribean Studies Association Port-au-Prince, Haiti
  • Paul_Emile, B. (2015). “Cultural Folk Reading : Caribbean Short Stories” Presented at the Mattapan Public Library Anancy Caribbean Folk Cultural Festival Boston, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2015). “Mosiac : Caribbean Short Fiction Collection” Presented at theInstitute of Caribbean Studies Washington DC
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2015). “Mosiac : Caribbean Short Fiction Collection” Presented at the CSA Caribbean Studies Association Conference New Orleans, Lousiana
  • Paul_Emile, B. (2015). “Boundaries, Borders : Self Concept in Afro-Caribbean and African American Texts” Presented at the CSA Caribbean Studies Association Conference New Orleans, Lousiana
  • Paul_Emile, B. (2015). “Healing Poems and Flute Music” Presented at theVirginia Thurston Healing Gardens Harvard, MA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2015). “Poetry and Flute”
  • Paul_Emile, B. (2015). “Poetry and Short Fiction Reading” Presented at the Bentley University Valente Center for Arts and Sciences Adamian Center, Bentley University
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2015). “Campus Dialogue on Race and Equality” Presented at theCampus Teach-In Bentley University
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2011). “First Unitarian Church in Belmont” Presented at thePoetry w/ Flute
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2011). “Haiti Rises - New Poems Read and Discussed” Presented at the Haiian Studies Organization Haitian Studies Conference Kingston, Jamaica
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2010). “Higher Education in Haiti: After the Earthquake” Presented at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus Rebuilding Higher Education in Haiti Port-au-Prince, Haiti
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2008). “Being the Hero of Your Life: Bringing Your Piece to the Puzzle of Life” Presented at the Montego Bay High School for Girls Montego Bay, Jamaica, High School Prize-Giving Ceremonial Day Montego Bay, Jamaica, West Indies
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2007). “Slavery and the Romantic Vision: William Wordsworth and Robert Southey” Presented at the Towson university and Loyola College International Conference on Romanticism Maryland, USA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2006). “THE WAY FORWARD: IDENTITY, ETHNICITY AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES” Presented at theCaribbean Studies Association Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2005). “HONORING DIVERSITY: SELF-DISCOVERY AND THE 'VOICE OF THE OTHER' IN SELECTED AFRICAN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN WORKS” Presented at theInternational Diversity Conference Beijing, China
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2005). “A WRITER'S LIFE: LIVING AND WORKING AS A WRITER IN BOSTON” Presented at theThe Cambridge Center for Adult Education Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2005). “FAITH IN OUR WRITING: TURNING INWARD AND HONORING THE CREATIVE SELF” Presented at theThe Cambridge Center for Adult Education Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2004). “THE SPIRIT OF THE WARRIOR WOMAN” Presented at theInternational Conference on Arts and Humanities Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2003). “Presented at 'Revisiting Slave Narratives/Les Avatars Contemporains des Recits d'esclaves' Conference at Paul Valery University” Presented at theLes Avatars Contemporains des Recits d'esclaves Conference at Paul Valery University Montpelier, France
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2002). “The Teaching of Diversity: New Techniques” Presented at theAAHE National Conference Anaheim, California
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2002). “Mythic Themes in Chicano Corridos” Presented at theIII International Conference on Chicano Literature University of Malaga
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (2000). “Images and Thought forms in Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea” Presented at theCaribbean Studies Association St. Lucia, West Indies
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1999). “Education and the Caribbean Student in the US” Presented at thePanel Presentation, World Bank Headquarters Washington, DC
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1999). “Caribbean Basin Initiatives” Presented at theWhite House Presentation and Briefing Washington, DC
  • Paul-Emile, B. H. (1999). “Warrior Woman Takes Her Stance” Presented at theWomen's Leadership Conference Tuscon, Arizona

    • Service

    Department Service

  • Committee Member for Evaluation Committee 2015 - Present
  • Committee Member for The Literature Committee 2015 - Present
  • Committee Member for Departmental Search Committee - 2021
  • Committee Member for Departmental Search Committee 2020 - 2020
  • Committee Member for Departmental Search Committee 2019 - 2019

    • University Service

  • Trustee Academic Affairs Committee 2016 - Present
  • Committee Member for Curriculum Implementation Committee 2015 - Present
  • Mentor (Faculty) for Mentor and Prepare Students for participation in education abroad courses. 2015 - Present
  • Mentor (Faculty) for Student Advising 2015 - Present
  • University-wide Evaluation Review Committee for Promotion to Full Professor for Modern Languages Candidate - 2016
  • Mentor (Faculty) for A Global Friendship 2014 - 2015
  • Guest Speaker for Multicultural Center and Office of Diversity 2015 - 2015

    • Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer for NYU’s Liberal Studies Department - 2021
  • Reviewer, Book for University of Mississippi Press - 2021