“You don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The only thing it takes to be a hero
is the courage to do what’s right when someone needs your help.”
–Quote from Dr. Pagnucci’s first Superhero Smash Radio Show (May 9, 2023)
Distinguished University Professor
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Chair of Department of Languge, Literature, & Writing (LLW)
- University & Professional Leadership
Credentials, CV, & Leadership Guides
Contact Information
Dr. Pagnucci’s Cool News!
Affordable College Now! Rally in Harrisburg, PA
On Sep. 28, 2026, the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties (APSCUF), held a rally to urge the Pennsylvania State legislature to increase funding for higher education by 15%. According to rankings by U.S. News and World Report, Pennsylvania has fallen to dead last in the nation (50th out of 50 states) for higher education funding. With costs rising on everything, this makes it highly challenging for students to be able to afford a college education.
Below is a video of the rally. The speeches are great, especially by a lot of students talking about the need for more government support for education. Dr. Pagnucci was at the rally, and if you go to around 27 minutes into the video, you can see him holding up a big S sign for APSCUF (and for Superhero, of course!).
Dr. Pagnucci Wins IUP 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award for Service!
I was thrilled to win the annual faculty award for service to the university. To be selected for this award is highly competitive and it is a great honor since it shows I have earned the respect of my colleagues across IUP.
I love collaborating with others and try to help wherever I can. I currently serve on IUP’s Academic Affairs Committee (ACC), the Academic Computing Policy and Advisory Committee (ACPAC), the College of Arts, Humanities, Media, and Public Affairs Leadership Council, the University Budget Council (UBAC), and the APSCUF Executive and Representative councils. I was Co-Chair of the Academic Restructuring Implementation Advisory (ARIA) Committee and served on IUP’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education Accreditation Steering Committee. I also serve as a faculty mentor for IUP’s Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers (FDAI).
One big contribution I feel I have made to student success at IUP is serving on many dissertation committees. At last count, I had directed 64 dissertations and had been a reader for 158 dissertations. Professionally, I also have been serving as President of the Pennsylvania College English Association for the past eight years. I also served as Vice President of the Indiana Free Library Board of Directors for eight years.
Dr. Pagnucci’s Newest Book!
I’m excited to announced that I have just received a new book contract! The book will explore real life lessons that can be drawn from superhero literature. The book will an edited collection and will be called The Life of a Superhero: Heroic Journeys and Super Takeaways for Real People. My Co-Editor for the book is my good friend Dr. Sandra Eckard who is an English Professor and the Writing Studio Director at East Stroudsburg University. The book will be published by McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.
New IUP Technological Literacy & AI Certificate
- IUP has just launched a new certificate for students to study the nature of AI and how to apply it to writing and research tasks
- This 12-credit certificate can be added to any IUP major
- Gian worked with Dr. R. Scott Moore, Chair of IUP’s Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies, to develop this new AI Certificate
Contact Information
Office Location
- Jane E. Leonard Hall, 506L
Email Address
- pagnucci @ iup.edu (no spaces)
Phone
- 724-347-2261
Postal Address
Dr. Gian Pagnucci
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Department of English
Jane E. Leonard Hall, Room 506L
981 Grant St.
Indiana, PA 15705
Current Projects
- “The Power of Superhero Literature: Applying the Lessons of Superheroes to Real Life”–A Special Issue of Humanities
- Dr. Pagnucci has just published a Special Issue of the journal Humanities with his good friend Dr. Sandy Eckard
- Humanities is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on the meaning of cultural expression and perceptions as seen through different interpretative lenses.
- Humanities is published by MDPI, a global leader in academic scholarship which produces over 538 open access journals
- Superhero Smash Radio Show
- Livestream Superhero Smash Here!
- A musical force for good!
- Dr. Pagnucci’s radio show featuring the best superhero music and comic book lore in the MCU, the DCU, and our U-niverse too
- Livestream Superhero Smash Here!
- The Human Journey
- Dr. Pagnucci’s reflection on the importance of the humanities, the social sciences, and the arts for enhancing the lives of 21st century citizens
- “God, Man, & Superman: Heroic Powers, Fragile Moments, and Religious Understanding”
- Dr. Pagnucci’s most recent scholarly presentation for the Fifteenth International Conference on Religion and Spirituality in Society at Sapienze Università di Roma in Italy
Dr. Pagnucci’s Newest Book Chapters!
“Quest”
- Dr. Pagnucci is thrilled to have published a poem with Red Flag Poetry
- Subscribe with Red Flag Poetry to get a poetry postcard delivered to your rail postal mailbox each month
- Each Red Flag Poetry postcard features a poem and matching artwork on one side and the author’s bio on the other side
- Dr. Pagnucci’s poem, Quest, was the January 2022 poetry postcard and features a wonderful photograph by Sara Everett of a classic typewriter and a cool gargoyle nicknamed Edgar
- Click here for more great Poetry!
