Instructor, Researcher, Author, Photographer
Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison is a historian and novelist currently teaching as a graduate instructor in the fields of the Humanities, English, and Education. His autoethnographic and scholarly writing has appeared in such prestigious peer-reviewed publications such as Writing on the Edge, The Qualitative Report, and Qualitative Research in Psychology. As a journalist, Marlen was the managing editor of the international beauty website, Fragrantica, and contributor to numerous popular publications. As an academic and cultural researcher, Marlen has worked with Smithsonian, the Japan Association for Language Teaching, and universities worldwide. Marlen is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing and MA in Public History from SNHU while teaching online graduate English and humanities courses at SNHU and Tiffin University. After calling Japan, UK, Malta, and Finland home, he now lives in Florida with his husband and dog, and enjoys photography, cooking, and teaching group fitness.
Recent Projects
The AutoEthnographer
The AutoEthnographer is Marlen’s award-winning, non-profit, open-access, peer-reviewed literary & arts magazine dedicated to autoethnography, a qualitative research method uniting ethnography & autobiography that utilizes lived experience as evidence for exploring cultural phenomena.
VISIT →
The Perfumer of Ashur
The Perfumer of Ashur is Marlen’s debut work of historical fiction. In the ancient Mesopotamian kingdom of Ashur, a headstrong perfumer’s vision for a new kind of perfume is challenged when the actions of a ruthless colleague and mad king threaten to deter her progress and destroy those she loves.
VISIT →
The Tapputi Project
“The Tappūtī Project” is a proposal for an immersive, multimodal exhibit about Tappūtī-bēlat-ekalle and her perfumery, as introduced in the novel The Perfumer of Ashur. Fans of the novel will enjoy being able to spend a day in the life of Tappūtī, exploring her laboratory and experiencing her fragrances.
VISIT →
Recognition
Tiffin University
2024 Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
2010 President’s Award for Service to the University
Southern New Hampshire University
2024 Outstanding Online Instructor
Japan Association of Language Teaching
2006 Best of JALT Award
Quick Stats
30+
Academic Publications
7
Countries taught in
25+
Years as an educator
15+
Universities taught at globally
100+
Presentations delivered
40+
Courses designed and taught
Testimonials
What My Students Say
” I gained so much self-confidence by developing my own academic research project in English. I appreciated all of our conferences and your constant encouragement.
Ulla Hakinen
University of Jyväskylä
” I never thought I would create my own digital magazine in a college English class, but thanks to that magazine I am now starting our undergraduate law review.”
James Mitchell
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
” Professor Harrison truly bridged my personal passions with my professional interests to help me identify a meaningful thesis topic that I would be proud to present and publish.
Amanda Foster
Southern New Hampshire University
Photography: Embracing a World Without Limitation
The world comes alive with possibility when viewed through the lens of a camera. Once the image is captured, the joy of editing begins. Just like writing, the initial image is merely a first draft ready for revision. Check out some of the places I’ve been by visiting my photo gallery. COMING SOON!
Fragrance Journalism -Writing About What I Love
I’ve been writing about fragrance for websites and magazines since 2005, combining two of my biggest passions – storytelling and aroma. Check out an some of my favorite articles from Fragrantica, Basenotes, and Now Smell This as well as some of my contributions to major publications like Men’s Fitness and Playboy.
PUBLIC HISTORY PROJECTS
Indians at the Post Office, Smithsonian and the National Postal Service
Project Coordinator and Researcher
“The long-range goal of Indians at the Post Office: Native Themes in New Deal-Era Murals, is to address both the virtues and the inaccuracies in these historic depictions, and to launch and continue to populate a web-based virtual exhibition on the Smithsonian National Postal Museum website. Our focus is to eventually have all of the mural research essays written by American Indians through collaborations with tribal and state college faculties and students, particularly from the areas and cultures depicted within the murals. In an on-going effort to challenge stereotyping, and correct the current nature of education concerning American Indians, the NMAI will devote the required scholarship to inform and assess these permanent visual statements.”
Latest Blog Posts
-
How I Met Tapputi
“Could I really write about a 3200 year old woman, of which we know so very little?”
-
Novel: The Queen’s Apothecary
And in his Science as he did Excell,In her high Favour he did always dwell… December of 1602, London, England. A grieving and feeble Queen Elizabeth I has decided to retire her court to Richmond Palace, a move that will require her royal apothecary, Hugh Morgan, and his staff to…
-
Novel: The Perfumer of Ashur
When a heartbroken but headstrong temple assistant in the 13th century BC Mesopotamian land of Ashur is befriended by the king and promoted to the palace perfumery, her intoxicating creations will change her future. But now with the king going mad, her closest friend in danger, and her competitor’s jealousy…
-
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION Interested in creative expression and psychological development, I began my education with a focus on counseling and expressive arts therapies. After some years working in public health and then international English education, I decided to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in English. One highlight of this doctoral program was the…
-
Disrupting the MA English Thesis: Autoethnography in Advanced Literary Studies
“We will explore why and how an MA thesis director introduces autoethnography as an alternative research discourse to MA English thesis students, and examine student responses. Pedagogical implications, teaching resources, and thesis examples will be presented in order to highlight the myriad creative possibilities for using autoethnography to both celebrate…
-
Novel: The English Teacher
BOOK 1: JAPAN When a chance discussion introduces the idea of teaching English in Japan, the gregarious yet still single Mitchell Taylor decides the time is right to shake his depression, find direction, and venture out into the world. But as a queer, Jewish American twenty-something who has never taught…
-
Keynote Speaker: Professional Development Opportunities for Online Students, Tiffin University
Presentations from the 1st Annual Graduate Research Conference, Tiffin University, Ohio: Keynote, “Creating Opportunities for Student Professional Development in Online Programs”; March, 2019
-
“He Was the One Teacher That Pushed Me the Most During My Stay Here at SNHU”
“Then came my final capstone class again. Learning from past experiences, I requested Dr. Marlen Harrison as a capstone mentor, whom I felt was the best professor I ever had at SNHU. He was the one teacher that pushed me the most during my stay here at SNHU. I knew…
-
Student Testimonials
A vital part of my teaching pedagogy involves metacognition and reflective writing. The following are excerpts from mid-course and final reflective letters, as well as emails and Facebook posts, written by students around the world who have taken my courses. Click the course title to view its syllabus; click the…