Danielle Byington is an educator, artist, author, and a doctoral student in University of Jaén’s Languages and Cultures program where she focuses on English literature as well as word and image studies. She created the educational art business Sight into Insight in 2020 which explores the relationship of language and visual arts to enhance emotional understanding, a project that has received several grants for research. Her creative writing is published in various outlets such as Cold Mountain Review and Still: The Journal, along with two poetry chapbooks, The Absurdity of Origins (dancing girl press, 2019) and We Are Mary Shelley’s Monster (Finishing Line Press, forthcoming, 2023), as well as two children’s books through Sight into Insight, Apples Kit Kitty and Empathy (2020), and You Are Home (2020). She is also an award-winning visual artist whose work frequently acts as a social commentary on women in mythology and history, her art having been exhibited nationally, accepted in a permanent collection, and published internationally as cover art and within journals/magazines/textbooks. Byington enjoys life with her Shakespearean better half and three ridiculous cats.
For inquiries regarding readings/lectures, purchasing texts, works for sale/exhibit, or all else, please email daniellebyington*AT SYMBOL*gmail.com.
Professional Curriculum Vitae
Updated 4/14/2023
Education
—Doctor of Philosophy in Languages and Cultures, Concentration in Early Modern English Literature, University of Jaén, Spain, forthcoming 2026
Dissertation: (Tentative title) “The Split-Feminine Psyche of Ophelia through George Peele’s Greek Heritage Works”
Chair: Dr. Eroulla Demetriou
—Master of Arts in English, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, spring 2017
Thesis: “Transmutations of Ophelia’s ‘Melodious Lay’”
Chair: Dr. Jesse Graves
—Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing minor, Magna Cum Laude, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, spring 2015
Honors Thesis: “The Bedroom and the Barnyard: Zoomorphic Lust Through Territory, Procedure, and Shelter in ‘The Miller’s Tale’”
Chair: Dr. Thomas Crofts
Field Experience
—Founder/Owner, Sight into Insight, Educational Business, 2020-present
—Co-director, All-Female Hamlet. Theatre production. Department of Communication and Performance, East Tennessee State University, fall 2018
—Co-instructor of Theatre, Department of Communication and Performance, East Tennessee State University, fall 2018
—Adjunct English Instructor, Department of Literature and Language, East Tennessee State University, fall 2017-present
—Adjunct English Instructor, Division of Humanities, Northeast State Community College, fall 2017-2020
—Adjunct English Instructor, Division of Humanities, Walters State Community College, fall 2017-2018
—Editor, The Mockingbird. Literary/Arts Magazine, East Tennessee State University, 2016-2017
—Teaching Assistant, East Tennessee State University, fall 2016-spring 2017
—Creator and Instructor of The Creative Writing Table, Center for Academic Achievement, East Tennessee State University, fall 2016-spring 2017
—Assistant Organizer, Southern Appalachian Student Conference on Literature, East Tennessee State University, 2016
—Writing Tutor, Center for Academic Achievement, East Tennessee State University, fall 2015-2019
—Editorial Staff Reader, The Mockingbird, East Tennessee State University, fall 2015
—Research Assistant, Dr. Joshua Reid, Department of Literature and Language, East Tennessee State University, 2015-2016
—President, Sigma Tau Delta, English Honors Society, East Tennessee State University, 2015-2017
—Dramaturg, The Trojan Women, dir. Herb Parker, East Tennessee State University, spring 2015
—Editorial Assistant, The Italian Romance Epic in English: 1590-1600. Dr. Joshua Reid, ed. MHRA Tudor & Stuart Translation Series, vol. 23. Cambridge, UK: Modern Humanities Research Association, fall 2014-spring 2016
—Discovery Research Assistant, supervisor Dr. Joshua Reid, East Tennessee State University, 2014-2015
Conference Presentations & Guest Lectures/Readings
—“Ophelia’s Death Iconography as the Anglicized Legacy of Hecuba.” Conference presentation, Spanish and Portuguese Society for English Renaissance Studies XXXIII. Universitat de València, Spain, forthcoming May 2023
—“Self-Portrait Concepts in Shakespeare and Bob Dylan.” Conference presentation, Shakespeare Association of America, Minneapolis, MN, April 2023
—“Domestic Space and Imagery of Anne Askew.” Conference presentation, Spanish and Portuguese Society for English Renaissance Studies XXXII. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, May 2022
—“Looking at Dialogue on the Stage before the Page.” Guest lecturer, “Creative Writing” (Seth Grindstaff), West Ridge High School, September 2021
—“Who Are Your ETSU Students?” Guest speaker, The Department of Literature and Language Composition Bootcamp for Graduate Students, East Tennessee State University, August 2021
—“New Writing from East Tennessee State University Faculty.” Guest speaker, ETSU Celebrates Creative Writing, East Tennessee State University, April 2021
—“In-betweenness and Meaning in the Arrangement of Your Chapbook.” Guest lecturer, ENGL 5940: “Creative Writing Themes: The Chapbook” (Dr. Jesse Graves), East Tennessee State University, March 2021
—“In-betweenness in Our Writing.” Guest speaker, The Mildred Haun Conference, Walters State Community College, February 2021
—“Looking at Ourselves in Our Writing.” Guest speaker, The Poetry Society of Tennessee – Northeast Chapter. Johnson City, TN, November 2020
—“Looking at What Inspires Your Poetry.” Guest lecturer, “Creative Writing” (Seth Grindstaff), Sullivan Central High School, August 2020
—“The Empathy Crisis: Looking at Ophelia Images to See Refugees.” Conference presentation, Shakespeare Association of America. Washington, D.C., April 2019
—“A Director’s Journal on Gender as Performance in Hamlet.” Guest lecturer, ENGL 4087: “Themes in Women’s Literature” (Dr. Katherine Weiss), East Tennessee State University, April 2019
—“Now You See It: Understanding Content Aesthetics for Poetry Chapbooks.” Guest lecturer, ENGL 5940: “Creative Writing Themes: The Chapbook” (Dr. Jesse Graves), East Tennessee State University, February 2019
—“Who Authors Gender in Hamlet?” Guest lecturer, ENGL 3500: “Women Authors” (Dr. Phyllis Thompson), East Tennessee State University, November 2018
—“Looking at Gender in Hamlet.” Conference presentation, UVA-Wise Medieval-Renaissance Conference. Wise, Virginia, September 2018
—“Imagery and the Holistic Role of the Thesis Statement.” Guest speaker, The Department of Literature and Language at ETSU’s Fall 2018 Composition Workshop, August 2018
—“Sighting and Scaffolding Ideas in Composition Courses.” Guest speaker, Composition Workshop Series. Johnson City, TN, March 2018
—“Assembling Your Research Paper.” Guest lecturer with Jonathan Hill, “Dual Enrollment English” (Dr. Nathaniel Olsen), Governor’s School, June 2017
—“The Transmuted Landscape of Ophelia’s ‘Melodious Lay’.” Guest speaker, ETSU Department of Literature and Language Research Symposium. Johnson City, TN, April 2017
—“’The Glassy Stream’ of ‘Her Melodious Lay’: Textual Physiognomy and the Landscape of Millais’ Ophelia.” Conference presentation, Tennessee Philological Association. Johnson City, Tennessee, February 2017
—“The Ekphrastic Metahistory of ‘Her Melodious Lay’: Platonic Forms and Dystopian ‘Other’ in Millais’ Appropriated Ophelia.” Conference presentation, South Atlantic Modern Language Association. Jacksonville, Florida, November 2016
—“Milton and Ekphrasis.” Guest lecturer, ENGL 4690: “Milton and His Age” (Dr. Josh Reid), East Tennessee State University, October 2016
—“The Arthurian Uncanny: Alignment of Aesthetic Success in the Anglophonic Imagination.” Conference presentation, Appalachian Student Research Forum. Johnson City, TN, April 2016
—“The Mid-Wife of the Uncanny: Queen Mab and the Unfamiliar on the Stage, Page, and Canvas.” Conference presentation, Southern Appalachian Student Conference on Literature. Johnson City, TN, April 2016
—“Fastened to Eighteenth-Century Fashion: The Rhizome Between Portraiture and Dressing Rooms, Then and Now.” Conference presentation, Southeastern American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies. Savannah, Georgia, February 2016
—“Merlin Checks in to Room 237: Arthurian Elements in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.” Conference presentation, UVA-Wise Medieval-Renaissance Conference XXIX. Wise, Virginia, September 2015
—“The Trojan Women Talk Back,” Guest Speaker, Q&A with Professor Herb Parker and Dr. Phyllis Thompson, East Tennessee State University, April 2015
—“Zoomorphic Birth and Fallen Troy’s Inability to Be Reborn.” Conference presentation, Southern Appalachian Student Conference on Literature. Johnson City, TN, April 2015
—“’What is Hecuba to [Me]?’: Dramaturging for ETSU’s Production of The Trojan Women.” Poster presentation, Appalachian Student Research Forum. Johnson City, TN, April 2015
—“Ekphrastic Poetry: Breaking down My Composition of ‘On Millais’ Ophelia’.” Conference presentation, Boland Research Symposium. Johnson City, TN, April 2015
—“Sir Gawain’s Exchange of Reputation for Identity.” Conference presentation, Boland Research Symposium. Johnson City, TN, April 2014
—“Reputation and Identity in Arthurian Legend.” Guest Lecturer, ENGL 5020: “Medieval Literature” (Dr. Thomas Crofts), East Tennessee State University, March 2014
Exhibit History
—The Operator Has Disconnected Your Call. Painting printed on vinyl banner. Johnson City Public Art Banner Exhibition, Founder’s Park, Johnson City, TN, June 2023 – May 2025
—“Her Melodious [Artificial Intelligence] Lay: Looking at Agency in Ophelia’s Death and AI Art. Digital exhibit. Shakespeare Association of America 2023, Minneapolis, MN, Forthcoming March 30 – April 1
—Not Much Has Changed: Tribute to Mary Richardson. Mixed media. The International FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social & Politically Engaged Art. Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN, October 3 – December 3, 2022
—F. Scott Fitzgerald Heals Zelda from the 1918 Flu. Watercolor and acrylic on mixed media paper, framed. Local Art in the Age of the 2020 Global Pandemic. Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN, April 4 – September 30, 2022
—Death of the Ego in the Dark Wood. Acrylic on canvas. Illustrating Dante’s Divine Comedy, Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN, August 2021
—Lady Liberty Borrows Athena’s Plumed Helmet. Painting printed on vinyl banner. Johnson City Public Art Banner Exhibition, Founder’s Park, Johnson City, TN, May 2021 – May 2023
—Jason and Medea’s Flawed Kitchen. Watercolor and acrylic on watercolor paper, framed. Still: An Elaboration on the Inanimate, The Chateau Gallery, Louisville, KY, April 2021
—History’s White Head Ignores Her Black Body. Mixed media. Political Discord, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, August 2020
Permanent Collection
—F. Scott Fitzgerald Heals Zelda from the 1918 Flu. Watercolor and acrylic on mixed media paper, framed. Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN, July 2020
Publications
Art:
—Aphrodite as a Caterpillar in Sea Foam. Painting, magazine cover. Crazyhorse, College of Charleston, fall 2022
—Shakespeare in the Park. Painting, textbook cover. Performing Shakespearean Appropriations, Fairly Dickinson Press, spring 2022
—Shakespeare in Pieces. Painting, interior pages. Multicultural Shakespeare, vol. 24 (39): 2021
—Athena Waters Her Flowers with Lightning. Painting, interior pages. Women Speak, Volume VI, edited by Kari Gunter-Seymour, Ohio Poet Laureate. Women of Appalachia Project, December 2020
Books:
—We Are Mary Shelley’s Monster. Poetry chapbook. Finishing Line Press, forthcoming, 2023
—You Are Home. Children’s book. Sight into Insight, 2020
—Apples Kit Kitty and Empathy. Children’s book. Sight into Insight, 2020
—The Absurdity of Origins. Poetry chapbook. Dancing Girl Press, 2019
Academic:
—“Looking at Iconography of Ophelia to Understand the Uncanny Yearning for the Mother.” Book chapter. Uncanny Perspectives: Texts, Images, Experiences. London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, 2024, forthcoming
—“The Dead Damsel Formula: Using the Posthuman to Look at Ophelia and Sharon Tate.” Journal article. MAI: Feminism and Visual Culture, themed issued “Gendered Death.” University of Gothenburg, vol. 13 (1): 2024, forthcoming
—“Review: Simon Godwin’s Romeo and Juliet, Performed by the National Theatre at the Olivier Theatre, London, UK, 23 April 2021.” Multicultural Shakespeare, University of Łódź, vol. 24 (39): 2021
—“Review: Simon Godwin’s Hamlet, Performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, 12 May 2016.” Multicultural Shakespeare, University of Łódź, vol. 15 (30): 2017
Poetry:
—“Commercial Break,” Black Moon Magazine, spring 2021
—“Aphrodite on Her Birthday,” Black Moon Magazine, spring 2021
—“Zelda’s Place,” Black Moon Magazine, spring 2021
—“Beat of Black,” Isthmus, winter 2020
—“When Plato Shows Me the Sun,” North Dakota Quarterly, winter 2019
—“The Anna Nicole Smith Poem,” North Dakota Quarterly, winter 2019
—“Sylvia Plath’s Shoes,” Still: The Journal, fall 2019
—“The White-Mouthed Story of Monsters,” Still: The Journal, fall 2019
—“One, Two,” Still: The Journal, fall 2019
—“Iris,” The Cape Rock, May 2017
—“The Scales of Belief,” Cold Mountain Review, May 2016
—“On The Lady and the Unicorn,” The Ekphrastic Review, April 2016
—“The Pleasure of the Halfshell,” Jimson Weed, April 2016
—“Too Much for Fortuna’s Eyes,” Jimson Weed, April 2016
—“Queen Mab’s Detour,” Jimson Weed, April 2016
— “Conception,” The Mockingbird, April 2016
— “Calamine Typewriter,” The Mockingbird, April 2016
— “Words, with You in Mind,” The Mockingbird, April 2016
—“Imperfect, Appalachian She in Acrylic,” Jersey Devil Press, March 2016
—“Written Word,” Rust + Moth, November 2015
—“Part of the Litter,” Right Hand Pointing, September 2015
—“On Jack and the Dead, Old Lady in the Bathtub from The Shining,” The Mockingbird, April 2015
—“On The Lady and the Unicorn,” The Mockingbird, April 2015
—“About a Cheerleader I Used to Know,” The Mockingbird, April 2015
—“Children until We Die,” The Mockingbird, April 2014
Miscellaneous:
—“Keeping Gender Out of Hamlet: Directors’ and Cast’s Notes.” All-Female Hamlet Production Program, November 2019
—“’What is Hecuba to [Us]?’: Dramaturg’s Notes.” The Trojan Women Production Program, April 2015
Awards, Recognitions, Interviews, Etc.
—Grant recipient, Shakespeare Association of America, Travel Grant ($500 and registration waiver), forthcoming spring 2023
—Award recipient, “Human Rights Award: Women’s Rights.” ($100) Not Much Has Changed: Tribute to Mary Richardson. Mixed media. The International FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social & Politically Engaged Art. Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN. October 3 – December 3, 2022
—Grant recipient, East Tennessee State University/Tennessee Board of Regents Open Educational Resources (OER) Grant Project ($1,000), forthcoming fall 2022
—Grant recipient, Archives of Appalachia, Margaret Anne Byrd Huffman Grant ($950), Looking through the Ghost of Christine Burleson: A Series of Abstract Portraiture Inspired by Her Personal Writings, spring 2022
—Grant recipient, East Tennessee State University/Tennessee Board of Regents Open Educational Resources (OER) Grant Project ($6,000), spring 2022
—Fellowship, Modern Language Association (MLA) Summer Institute ($2,500), summer 2021
—Featured writer and interviewee, Black Moon Magazine, spring 2021
—Semi-finalist, River Styx International Poetry Contest, 2019
—Mentor to students who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for the Jack Higgs Freshman Essay Award, LiLa Awards, East Tennessee State University, spring 2019
—Reader/research permission, National Gallery of Art Library and Archives, Washington, D.C., spring 2019
—“All-Female Hamlet Production Arrives This Week,” Interviewee, East Tennessean, Johnson City, TN, November 2018
—“Most Inspiring Faculty/Staff” (co-winner with 7 others across university), Student Choice Awards, Student Government Association (SGA), East Tennessee State University, spring 2018
—Mentor to student who placed 1st for the Jack Higgs Freshman Essay Award, LiLa Awards, East Tennessee State University, spring 2018
—“Recognition of Distinction,” Comprehensive Examination in Renaissance Literature, East Tennessee State University, spring 2017
—“Poised for Flight: Mockingbird Prepped for 44th Year.” Interviewee, East Tennessean, Johnson City, TN, January 2017
—Featured Student, East Tennessee State University’s Homepage. Interviewee, Johnson City, TN, August 2016
—Featured Writer, Evoxe, Volume 2. Interviewee, Johnson City, TN, April 2016
—Achievement in Essay (Undergraduate) Award, “Zoomorphic Birth and Fallen Troy’s Inability to Be Reborn.” Southern Appalachian Student Conference on Literature 2015. Johnson City, TN, April 2015
—Harry G. Merrill Memorial Scholarship ($2,000): award for incoming graduate student who promises success in the field, East Tennessee State University, April 2015
Courses Taught
East Tennessee State University:
—THEA 4957: “Special Topics Theatre/Dance: All-Female Hamlet” (Co-Instructor)
—ENGL 3500: “Women Authors”
—ENGL 2430: “European Literature”
—ENGL 2220: “British Literature II”
—ENGL 2210: “British Literature I”
—ENGL 2120: “American Literature II”
—ENGL 2030: “Literary Heritage”
—ENGL 1020 (for majors in the humanities): “Critical Thinking/Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1020: “Critical Thinking/Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1010: “Critical Reading/Expository Writing”
Walters State Community College:
—ENGL 2410: “Western World Literature I”
—ENGL 1020 (High School Dual Enrollment): “Critical Thinking/ Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1020: “Critical Thinking/ Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1010: “Critical Reading/Expository Writing”
Northeast State Community College:
—ENGL 2120: “American Literature II”
—ENGL 1020 (High School Dual Enrollment): “Critical Thinking/Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1020: “Critical Thinking/Argumentative Writing”
—ENGL 1010 (High School Dual Enrollment): “Critical Reading/Expository Writing”
—ENGL 1010: “Critical Reading/Expository Writing”
—ENGL 0870: “Basic Writing/Learning Assistance”
Field Service
—Chaired panel for The Southern Appalachian Symposium on Literature (SASCOL), “Women in Literature II: Violence,” East Tennessee state University, April 2023
—Assisted hosting informal meet-and-greet with composition program director candidate, East Tennessee State University, February 2022
—Fiction Judge, Tails and Tales Short Story Contest, Johnson City Public Library, summer 2021
—Introduced Emily Rosko’s poetry presentation, ETSU Creative Writing Festival, April 2021
—Poetry Judge, Poetry Society of Tennessee, fall 2017
—Presenter of the Don Johnson Young Writers’ Poetry Contest prize, per Sigma Tau Delta, April 2017
—Volunteer at The ETSU Creative Writing Festival, East Tennessee State University, April 2017
—Volunteer writer for Salvador Dalí exhibit, Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN, April 2017
—Poetry Judge for the Second Annual Don Johnson Young Writer’s Poetry Award, per Sigma Tau Delta, January 2017
—Volunteer at The ETSU Creative Writing Festival, East Tennessee State University, April 2016
—Sales Associate with annual book sale, per Sigma Tau Delta, April 2016
—Introduced poet Joseph Bathanti at a reading of his poetry, East Tennessee State University, March 2016
—Presenter of the Don Johnson Young Writers’ Poetry Contest prize, per Sigma Tau Delta, March 2016
—Spokesperson for Sigma Tau Delta at ETSU Winter Cruise, per Sigma Tau Delta, February 2016
—Storyteller at Town Acres and Fairmont Elementary Schools, per Sigma Tau Delta, October 2015
—Poetry Judge of the First Annual Don Johnson Young Writer’s Competition, Sigma Tau Delta, East Tennessee State University, fall 2015
—Presenter at the Charles Wright historical marker at the Kingsport Public Library, per Sigma Tau Delta, September 2015
—Reader of poetry for residents at Brookdale Assisted Living, per Sigma Tau Delta, April 2015
—Sales Associate with annual book sale, per Sigma Tau Delta, April 2015
—Guest judge of literary arts contest, Town Acres Elementary School, per Sigma Tau Delta, February 2015
Memberships
—Shakespeare Association of America
—The Marlowe Society of America
—Renaissance Society of America
—Southeastern American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies
—Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honors Society
References
Dr. Jesse Graves, Poet in Residence, Associate Professor, ETSU, gravesj@etsu.edu 423-439-6674
Dr. Josh Reid, Assistant Chair of the Department of Literature and Language Assistant Professor, ETSU, reidjs@etsu.edu 423-439-4339
Dr. Deidre Johnson, Director of Learning Services/Center for Academic Achievement, ETSU, johnsondr4@etsu.edu 423-439-7121
Danielle Nicole Byington 