Draft:Richard Scott Nokes

Dr. Richard Scott Nokes is a professor of English at Troy University, specialising in medieval literature, medieval manuscripts, modern medievalism, and digital publishing. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Butler University in 1992. Following his undergraduate studies, Nokes taught English as a second language in South Korea. In 1993, he established the American Studies Program at Klaipėda University in Lithuania and taught Canadian literature at Lithuania Christian College. He completed his Ph.D. at Wayne State University before joining Troy University in 2003.

Also in 2003, Nokes was a Fulbright-Hays scholar, conducting research on the Maya epic in Guatemala. He was also a regional finalist for the President's Commission on White House Fellowships in 2007. Demonstrating his commitment to advancing medieval scholarship, he founded Witan Publishing in 2011, which focuses on producing peer-reviewed academic works in this field.

Nokes has an extensive publication record, including numerous peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and books. He is the author of two notable works of fiction:

• The Watch of Traxis – A compelling fantasy novel that combines elements of medieval lore with a suspenseful narrative, showcasing his deep knowledge of historical literature.

• From A to Zombie – A creative and satirical take on the zombie apocalypse genre, blending humor and horror with a unique perspective on societal themes. His fiction reflects his ability to blend scholarly expertise with engaging storytelling, appealing to both academic and popular audiences. His recent work, "Beowulf in Comic Books and Graphic Novels" (2022), examines the representation of the epic poem in modern visual media.

Dr. Nokes is also recognized for his contributions to the broader literary community. He has been associated with The Independent Institute, where he authored a review titled "The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgot," published in "The Independent Review" in Winter 2015/16.

In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Nokes maintained a blog titled "Unlocked Wordhoard," where he shares insights into medieval literature and related topics. His interests include Anglo-Saxon literature, medieval magic, medieval medicine, medievalism, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Moreover, Nokes is widely recognized for his online persona as "Professor Awesome". Through his blog, Professor Awesome and the Minions of Doom, and various public appearances, he engaged students with discussions on medieval literature, popular culture, and folklore. This identity reflects his commitment to making academia accessible and entertaining.

In recent years, Nokes has engaged with the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and business. As the Director of Troy University's AI Forward Initiative, he has addressed both the benefits and limitations of AI technologies. In November 2024, he organized a summit in partnership with the Better Business Bureau Educational Foundation to discuss the ethical challenges businesses face with AI. He has shared his insights through various media platforms and has been featured on Troy Trojan Vision discussing his research and perspectives on AI.