Education:

Ph.D in Comparative Literature, University of Iowa, 1987.

Doctoral studies in German, English, and Scandinavian Studies, University of Cologne, Germany, 1980-1982.

M.A. in Comparative Literature, University of Warwick, 1980.

B.A. in German and English, University of Iceland, 1979.

Academic positions:

From 1994 Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Iceland.

2016-2017 Visiting Professor, Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, University of Victoria.

2008-2015 Dean, School of Humanities, University of Iceland.

1997-1998 Visiting Professor in Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen.

1997 (Spring) Visiting Professor in Comparative Literature (Translation Studies), University of Iowa.

1989-1993 Associate Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Iceland.

1988-1989 Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Iceland.

1987-1988 Lecturer in English and Comparative Literature, University of Iceland.

1982-1986 Teaching Assistant/Instructor, University of Iowa.

Other appointments and services:

2019- Member of the Nils Klim Committee, nominated by the University of Iceland, appointed by the Holberg Board, Bergen, Norway. Committee chair 2020-2024.
2019- Affiliate Professor of Icelandic Literature, University of Washington, Seattle.
2018 (April) Visiting Hurst Professor, Washington University, St. Louis.
2009-2015 Member of the University of Iceland Finance Committee.
1998-2001 and 2008-2015 Chair of the University of Iceland Centre for Research in the Humanities.
2014 Member of the Program Committee of the Modernist Studies Association (MSA).
2007-2014 Chair of the Board of University of Iceland Press.
2009-2012 Member of the Science Committee of Icelandic state universities.
2003-2007 Chair of the Board of the University of Iceland Art Museum.
2000-2001 Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Iceland.
1994-1996, 1998-2000 and 2005-2006 Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature and General Linguistics, University of Iceland.
1991-1996 Member of the University of Iceland Science and Research Committee; chair 1994-1996.
1990-1992 Director of the Institute for Literary Research, University of Iceland.
1989-present Member of several judiciary committees for new positions and promotions (frequently as chair). Member of several ad hoc committees both within and outside the University of Iceland. Also member of literary award committees, including the one for the Icelandic Literary Prize for 1989 (the inaugural award), and the Halldór Laxness Prize award committee (1995-1997).