Dean of Arts

Professor Wenche Ommundsen

Professor Ommundsen took up the position of Dean in the Faculty of Arts in 2009.

Formerly of Deakin University, Professor Ommundsen joined the University of Wollongong in 2006 as Professor of English Literatures. She has previously held several positions of leadership in research and research training.

Professor Ommundsen started her education in Norway. She holds university qualifications from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland (BA Hons, Dip Ed), London University (MA) and the University of Melbourne (PhD).  

Her main areas of teaching and research interest are Australian and transnational literatures. She is an internationally recognised expert in multicultural literature, especially writing from Asian diasporas. She has gained Australia Research Council Discovery grants for her work on Australian literature and public culture, multiculturalism in children’s literature and Asian-Australian literary interactions. Her passion for cross-cultural relations extends into other aspects of her academic work, such as curriculum development and international exchange and collaboration.

Professor Ommundsen is a founding board member of AustLit, the online database for Australian literature, with particular responsibility for the multicultural subset. Current board memberships include EASA (European Association for Studies of Australia) and the Nordic Network in Postcolonial Studies.