Donald Gray joined the faculty in Bloomington in 1956, and was named Culbertson Professor of English shortly before his retirement in 1998.
He has served as editor of College English and Victorian Studies. Professor Gray edited editions and collections of 19th-century British fiction and poetry, and published essays on Victorian literature and culture, Victorian journalism and literary publishing, the teaching of English, the education of teachers, and the history of English studies.
In 2020, Donald Gray was presented the Bicentennial Medal for his distinguished service to Indiana University.