Sawyer K. Kemp (they/them) is an assistant professor of English at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Their research areas include: early modern drama, Shakespeare studies, performance studies, transgender & queer theory, affect theory, and digital humanities.

Their first book project, “Shakespeare and the Paradox of Access” investigates the rhetoric and industry of “accessibility” in contemporary Shakespeare performance. Exploring access as a tool for feminist and queer critique, their research analyzes theatres’ impact on and outreach to communities of trans and gender non-conforming people, sexual assault survivors, and people with disabilities.

Sawyer’s work has appeared in Shakespeare Quarterly, Shakespeare Studies, The Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies, Shakespeare Bulletin, and the edited collection Teaching Social Justice Through Shakespeare.