Sharon Pajka

• Ph.D. in English Education from the University of Virginia
• Masters of Arts in Secondary English Education from Gallaudet University
• Graduate Certificate in Public History from the University of Richmond
• Bachelors of Arts in English and Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University

Sharon Pajka is a Professor in the Department of English. She holds a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of Virginia. Her doctoral research focused on the portrayals and perceptions of Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature. Her research blog on the topic can be found here: http://pajka.blogspot.com/.

In 2018, Dr. Pajka completed a graduate program in Public History at the University of Richmond while developing a course focused on dark tourism. In 2021, her book Women Writers Buried in Virginia was published through The History Press. In 2023, her second book The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of His Family, Friends and Foes was published through The History Press. In October 2024, it was announced as one of the winners of the 2024 Saturday Visiter Awards by Poe Baltimore in the "Adaptation of Poe's Life or Works" category. 

On the weekends, you can find her in the cemetery volunteering, giving history tours, researching and writing about cemeteries. Find more information on her website: https://www.sharonpajka.com/ and chairing the Virginia Chapter for the Association for Gravestone Studies.