SAINT LOUIS, MO, June 19, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Brian Abel Ragen, PhD, is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Fueled by his passion for literature, Dr. Ragen earned a Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College in before earning a Master of Arts from Princeton University, where he subsequently served as a lecturer in English between 1984 and 1988. Towards the end of this period, he simultaneously earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the aforementioned Ivy League institution. Dr. Ragen's decision to pursue a career as an educator was chiefly inspired by his aunt, who enjoyed a prosperous career as a professor of history at San Diego State University.

After finding further success as a lecturer in English at Bryn Mawr College, Dr. Ragen was appointed as an associate professor of English at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In 2000, he was promoted to the position of professor and he worked in this capacity until 2013, at which point he was distinguished as an emeritus professor of English on behalf of the aforementioned Edwardsville-based institution. In 2010, Dr. Ragen was additionally recruited as a visiting professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Alongside his responsibilities as an educator, Dr. Ragen has contributed articles to numerous professional journals and publications in relation to heraldry, hymnody and the utilization of religious themes in literature. Likewise, he excelled as an editor of "Papers on Language and Literature," which is published through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, between 1992 and 2008. During this period, Dr. Ragen garnered widespread recognition as the author of 1989's "A Wreck on the Road to Damascus" and 2002's "Tom Wolfe: A Critical Companion."

For more than 20 years, Dr. Ragen has served as a board member of St. Louis Cathedral Concerts as well as the Eugene Field House Museum. He also currently contributes to St. Louis Cathedral Concerts as a treasurer and to the aforementioned historic museum as a secretary. Moreover, Dr. Ragen was recruited as trustee of Fontbonne University in 2015.

Outside of his professional career, Dr. Ragen has participated in myriad charitable initiatives on behalf of several humanitarian organizations in a volunteer capacity including the Order of St. John and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Through his involvement with the former organization, he has recorded more than 300 hours of charitable work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Ragen has also provided transportation for various charitable organizations, helped stock food banks and performed literary readings for U.S. war veterans.

In 2022, Dr. Ragen was honored with a Service Medal of the Order of the St. John for 25 years of loyal service on behalf of Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester. He had previously been distinguished as a Knight of Magisterial Grace on behalf of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and as a Knight of the Grand Cross on behalf of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Dr. Ragen has additionally been named as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing and as a Knight of Justice of the Order of the St. John.

Dr. Ragen attributes a great deal of his success to his perseverance and his firm commitment to his professional interests and goals. He is extremely proud to have helped establish scholarships and fellowships at multiple universities including Pomona College, Princeton University, Fontbonne University and William Penn University. Since his genuine passion for his work has played an integral role in the longevity of his career, Dr. Ragen advises aspiring educators to immerse themselves in their respective fields, rather than attempting to become an expert in virtually every aspect of their lives.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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