Alumni Spotlight: Michael Hatch

Michael Hatch has been a part of USU’s ecosystem for over a decade. After earning a master’s degree in English Literature and Writing from USU back in 2013, Michael went on to earn his Ph.D. in Literature at Arizona State University and now works as an adjunct instructor for the USU concurrent enrollment program. Between article publications, conference presentations, and successes as a teacher of English 1010 and 2010, Michael has continued to make a difference at USU.

Michael’s first article publication, “A Novel of Displacement: Seeking Spatial Justice in Bleak House’s Consequential Ground,” was written during his time as a Ph.D. candidate. The article analyzes how Charles Dickens’s Bleak House, “challenges its readers to look beyond one’s own space and consider social, political, and economic factors.”

Published in September 2025 in Crime Fiction Studies, Michael’s second article, “Gestures of Legitimisation: The Scholarly Treatment of Dashiell Hammett until 1980,” looks at how an influential major literary figure was received by those who would otherwise focus on who they deemed as more “literary” authors. Michael explains, “About a year after I finished my Ph.D., I was going through some of my work and found this essay. I remembered that the journal Crime Fiction studies had started publishing a few years before. After its publication, another journal even solicited me to be a reviewer for an essay on a related topic.”

When in the USU master’s program, Michael appreciated getting to go through it with a connected cohort.

“I underestimated the difference between a bachelor’s and master’s program,” Michael reflects, “and having a good community of people to work and commiserate with helped me learn how to handle the increased workload and expectations. This also helped when I started my Ph.D. program at Arizona State University; I took a few years between my MA and Ph.D., and so I was one of the older Ph.D. students and was able to help my younger colleagues.”

Michael’s dissertation ended up centering upon two novels he first studied at USU when in one of Department Head Brian McCuskey’s courses: Bleak House and The Moonstone. About the USU program, Michael notes, “It helped me appreciate specializing and the rigor of research necessary. Dr. McCuskey’s course helped me get started as a Victorianist and foster my interest in mystery and detective fiction.”

Now as an adjunct instructor for concurrent enrollment, Michael enjoys working with students and engaging in memorable discussions about writing and research.