Susan J Jeffers

Susan J. Jeffers, formerly Susan Grace Shillinglaw, is a distinguished American literary scholar and professor emerita from San José State University (SJSU). She dedicated 37 years to teaching English and comparative literature at SJSU, also serving as the director of the university’s Center for Steinbeck Studies for 18 years. Her academic career began with teaching positions at Wake Forest University and Canisius College before she joined SJSU in 1984.

Jeffers is particularly renowned for her in-depth scholarship on John Steinbeck, a reputation solidified by her leadership roles at the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies and the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California. The California State University system has acknowledged her as one of the foremost authorities on Steinbeck's literary contributions. Her research delves into Steinbeck's engagement with themes of ecology, politics, gender, and the significance of place in his work, often highlighting the intersection of scientific inquiry, spiritual reflection, and social consciousness. She has also contributed to public understanding through lectures, interviews, and publications in prominent outlets.

Susan J. Jeffers is widely recognized as a leading scholar of John Steinbeck's literary output. Her research meticulously examines Steinbeck's deep engagement with ecological concepts, political currents, gender dynamics, and the profound influence of setting on his narratives. She explores how Steinbeck's fiction masterfully synthesizes scientific observation, spiritual contemplation, and a strong social conscience. Her work often highlights Steinbeck's close relationships, particularly with his first wife, Carol Henning Steinbeck, and his friend Edward F. Ricketts, as crucial elements shaping his creative process. Jeffers also investigates Steinbeck's collaborations and their connection to the social, political, and ecological dimensions present in his writings. Early in her career, she also explored American literary realism and the works of James Fenimore Cooper.

Throughout her extensive career, Jeffers held significant leadership positions focused on Steinbeck studies. She directed the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San José State University, where she organized international conferences, edited the Steinbeck Newsletter, and co-founded the Steinbeck Award, recognizing individuals embodying Steinbeck's ideals. Later, she served as scholar-in-residence and then Director of the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California. She has also been instrumental in developing educational programs, including co-directing National Endowment for the Humanities summer institutes for teachers focused on Steinbeck's work, connecting his writing to regional history and ecology. Furthermore, she has been a visiting professor at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, co-teaching an interdisciplinary course on holistic biology.

Jeffers has authored and co-edited a substantial body of work dedicated to John Steinbeck. Her major books, such as 'On Reading The Grapes of Wrath,' 'Carol and John Steinbeck: Portrait of a Marriage,' 'A Journey into Steinbeck's California,' and 'Steinbeck's Landscapes,' are noted for their integration of close textual analysis, archival research, and cultural history. These works illuminate how geographical settings, friendships (especially with Edward F. Ricketts), and political contexts influenced Steinbeck's writing. She has also co-edited important interdisciplinary collections like 'Steinbeck and the Environment' and 'Beyond Boundaries: Rereading John Steinbeck.' Additionally, she has written introductions for Penguin Classics editions of several of Steinbeck's most famous novels and non-fiction works, making his literature accessible to a wider audience.