Corey Olsen

Corey Olsen
Born Corey Olsen
(1974-08-16) August 16, 1974
Nationality American
Fields English Literature, J.R.R. Tolkien
Notable awards Phi Beta Kappa
Website
http://tolkienprofessor.com/

Corey Olsen is a professor and podcaster known as the Tolkien Professor[1] best known for his work in new media promoting the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and Anglo Saxon literature.[2] Formerly a professor at Washington College, Olsen now dedicates his time to Signum University,[3] an online learning facility he founded in 2012.

Education

Corey Olsen obtained his B.A in English and Astrophysics[4] from Williams College in 1996, going on to Columbia University where he obtained his M.A. in 1997, M.Phil in 2000, and his Ph.D in medieval literature in 2003.[5]

Academic career

Upon graduation from Columbia University, Olsen obtained teaching positions at Temple University, Columbia University, and Nyack College. He then proceeded to his longest standing position to date, Assistant Professor of English at Washington College with a specialty on J.R.R. Tolkien, Arthurian Literature, Chaucer, and Sir Thomas Malory. It was at Washington College that Olsen was first able to teach a literary class on Tolkien.[6] In 2013 Professor Olsen left Washington College to focus on Signum University and the Mythgard Institute, online learning websites offering classes in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, Fantasy Literature, Latin and Creative Writing.[7]

Online Education

With the success of his podcasts, Olsen founded the Mythgard institute and Signum University where he is now President.[3] These institutes offer a range of classes on Latin, the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, Creative Writing and fantasy and science fiction literature (such as "The Story of The Hobbit.")[8] Olsen founded Signum University and the Mythgard Institute belief that "We at Signum University believe that this kind of academic experience should be available to "everyone, everywhere".[9] Several of the courses that are offered at the Mythgard Institute have also been offered for free downloads through iTunes U, the first of these courses was "The Lord of the Rings 1: The Road Goes Ever On."[10]

Podcasting

In June 2009 Olsen launched the Tolkien Professor podcast.[11] The Podcast was originally created to explore the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, primarily The Hobbit, with latter episodes focusing on The Silmarillion. The podcast achieved over a quarter of a million downloads in its first year alone.[12] It expanded to cover the history of fairy stories and their influence on modern fantasy along with supplementary podcasts on the movie adaptations of the works of Tolkien. The supplementary podcasts, often co-hosted by former students, were recorded under the title Riddles in the Dark.[13][14] Another infrequent aspect of the Tolkien Professor podcasts was the Tolkien Chat[15] call-in shows. These shows were hosted through Skype where listeners could call in and ask Olsen questions directly. The shows were then edited and published as podcasts.

Olsen also published several of his Washington College courses, including Faerie and Fantasy[16] that covered some of the well known works of Middle English such as Sir Orfeo, Sir Launfal, and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle.[17] To go along with his book Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit,[18] Olsen published a series of lectures on The Hobbit that gave chapter reviews and interpretation of the story, poetry, and prose of The Hobbit.[19]

Publications & Papers

References

  1. ↑ Tolkien Professor Website: http://tolkienprofessor.com/
  2. ↑ Washington Post profile: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020903117.html
  3. 1 2 "About Signum University". signumuniversity.org. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  4. ↑ Staff Page Signum University: http://www.signumuniversity.org/about/our-staff/
  5. ↑ Washington College Profile: http://archive.is/20130626200823/http://www.washcoll.edu/live/profiles/1907-corey-olsen
  6. ↑ Academic profile: Washington College,http://archive.is/20130626200823/http://www.washcoll.edu/live/profiles/1907-corey-olsen
  7. ↑ Signum University & Mythgard: http://www.signumuniversity.org/ http://www.mythgard.org/
  8. ↑ Signum University class list: http://www.signumuniversity.org/academics/course-catalog/
  9. ↑ Signum University about page, "The Dawn of a New Era: http://www.signumuniversity.org/about/
  10. ↑ "The Road goes ever on Free Download: http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/2013/03/free-on-itunes-u-the-lord-of-the-rings-i/
  11. ↑ Tolkien Professor: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tolkien-professor/id320513707
  12. ↑ Washington College Staff information page: http://archive.is/20130626200823/http://www.washcoll.edu/live/profiles/1907-corey-olsen
  13. ↑ Mythgard Institute: http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/
  14. ↑ Interview at Festival in the Shire: http://www.festivalartandbooks.com/journal9gfx/9intolsen.html
  15. ↑ Tolkien Chat: http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/about/professor-olsen/
  16. ↑ Faerie and Fantasy on Tolkien Professor: http://tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/courses/faerie-and-fantasy/
  17. ↑ Tolkien Professor: http://tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/courses/faerie-and-fantasy/
  18. ↑ Exploring J.R.R. Tolkiens "The Hobbit": http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Exploring-JRR-Tolkiens-quotThe-Hobbitquot/9780547739465
  19. ↑ The Hobbit Lectures: http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/the-hobbit/
  20. ↑ Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Exploring-JRR-Tolkiens-quotThe-Hobbitquot/9780547739465
  21. ↑ Tolkien Studies: http://wvupressonline.com/tolkien_studies_volume_5_9781938228544
  22. ↑ Kalamazoo Publishers: http://www.worldcat.org/title/malory-and-christianity-essays-on-sir-thomas-malorys-morte-darthur/oclc/824670756

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