Meet M.L. Stapleton 

Professor of English and Chapman Distinguished Professor

M.L. Stapleton has been Chapman Distinguished Professor of English at PFW since 2004. He offers courses in Shakespeare and early modern English literature and culture with a writing emphasis. He also teaches first-year composition. 

He earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan (1987) and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University (1981, cum laude, English and History). Previously, he was Professor of English at Stephen F. Austin State University (1990-2004). 

He has used moneys from his professorship to fund professional travel for students and faculty and community trips to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater as well as student activities and faculty conferences on our campus. 

He was awarded a Mellon fellowship at the Harry Ransom Research Center at the University of Texas (1995), has presented at conferences for the Shakespeare Association of America and internationally: the Université de Montpellier (2015), the English Institute in Florence, and University College, London (2023). 

He served as Book Reviews Editor for Shakespeare Quarterly (2022-25). He has published over forty articles and reviews and is seeing his ninth book through the press, Nicholas Rowe’s “Hamlet” and the Editing of Shakespeare.