Dr. Sharon Pajka
Sharon Pajka is a Professor in the Department of English. She holds a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of Virginia. Her recent publications focus on deaf characters and dead (e.g. vampire) characters in adolescent literature.
Her doctoral research focused on the portrayals and perceptions of Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature. She currently keeps a research blog on the topic: http://pajka.blogspot.com/.
She enjoys teaching courses in adolescent literature and literary studies along with teaching interdisciplinary courses, including “Vampires: Their Historical Significance in Literature, Film, and Pop Culture,” which made The Washington Post's list of "The 15 Oddest College Courses in the D.C. Region".
In 2018, Dr. Pajka completed a graduate program in Public History at the University of Richmond while developing a course focused on dark tourism.
On the weekends, you can find her in the cemetery giving history tours, and running River City Cemetarians; or, you can find her in the blogosphere at http://Goth-Gardening.blogspot.com/ where she uses “gardening” as a metaphor for living a more gothy life.
Episode 268 - Grave Delights & Ghostly Bites: A Cemetery Dessert Spec…
What dessert would you eat in a cemetery? This week, we're sharing some of your wild and wonderful social media responses to that very question, inspired by the authors of "To Die For A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes" and "Haunted Virginia Cemeteries"! We're unwrapping a brand new episode that also…
Episode 243 - Haunted History: Exploring Virginia's Cemeteries with S…
Get ready for a chilling conversation! Join Jennie and Dianne as they chat with author Sharon Pajka, PhD, about her new book "Haunted Virginia Cemeteries". As we creep into spooky season, Sharon guides us through the Old Dominion's most haunted burial grounds, from Arlington Cemetery's eerie atmosp…
Episode 145 - The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of his Famil…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne are joined this week by a favorite returning guest, Dr. Sharon Pajka, to discuss her new book being releas...
Episode 128 - Ordinary Extraordinary Women: Uncovering the Hidden Sto…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne celebrate the last week of Women's History Month by revisiting some past interviews with women who have re...
Episode 100 - Celebrating 100 Episodes of The Ordinary Extraordinary …
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne look back through the first 99 episodes of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. They discuss some ...
Episode 74 - Women Writers Buried in Virginia Part 2
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne continue their discussion with Sharon Pajka, PhD about the 44 ordinary extraordinary women writers covered...
Episode 73 - Women Writers Buried in Virginia
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne welcome writer and professor of English Sharon Pajka, PhD back to the show to discuss her latest book, "Wo...
Episode 53 - Happy One Year Anniversary Ordinary Extraordinary Cemete…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. In this very special episode Jennie and Dianne celebrate the one year anniversary of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery pod...