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Outstanding Scholarly Achievement
recipient sheds light on research “odyssey”

David Madden

Everyone may be a critic, but English professor David Madden has taken it to the next level. Madden, the Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award recipient for 2006-07, is being recognized for his work on two well-received books, critical reviews, editorial work and peer-reviewed articles. He will present a talk at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Willow Suite in Modoc Hall titled, “One Scholar’s Odyssey: Research at the CSU.” He is the 45th recipient of the award.

Madden, whose specialties are Irish and contemporary American fiction, has written more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and more than 150 book reviews published in leading journals. He’s currently editing the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Fiction to be published by Blackwell Press in Oxford, and he has been guest editor for two issues of The Review of Contemporary Fiction about authors Paul West and Alan Burns.

“One of the most gratifying things I ever heard was from an author about whose works I had written a number of reviews,” Madden says. “He told me, ‘In every one of your essays and reviews, you manage to find something new to say about my work.’ That was great to hear.”

And that author’s not alone in his praise of Madden. Department of English chair Sheree Meyer says, “Authors and critics often have contentious relationships. One of the most impressive aspects of Madden’s work is the degree to which his reputation among scholars and creative people in our field is supported by the authors about whom he writes.”

In his lecture, Madden will address what it means to him to write, do research and publish. “Working on deadlines for articles has always provided a challenge, especially while trying to juggle a four-course teaching load. But I’ve kept at it.” He also wants to talk about where the adventures in writing have taken him, “both intellectually and geographically,” Madden says.

Madden, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Davis, joined the Department of English in 1982. And he’s not only a prodigious scholar—he’s also been recognized in the past for work as a teacher and mentor. In 1999, he was named the Outstanding Teacher in the College of Arts and Letters.

The Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award is given each year to a Sacramento State faculty member who has, over the years, made significant contributions to a discipline through scholarly activity, creative/artistic endeavors, research and publication. The award is intended to recognize work accomplished at Sacramento State.