Kristina Richardson

Kristina Richardson is the John L. Nau Professor of the History and Principles of Democracy and Professor of History and Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Virginia. She holds an AB in History from Princeton University (2003), an MA (2005) and PhD (2008) in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan.

Her research focuses on medieval Islamic history, particularly marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, Romani (Ghuraba'), enslaved laborers, and artisans. Recent work explores premodern narratives of race in Basra (637–1000 CE) and the global history of printing technologies.

• 2022 Dan David Prize
• 2023 Monica H. Green Prize
• Supported by NEH, Mellon Foundation, Marie Curie Foundation, and CUNY

Her publications span fields including disability studies, Romani migration, sign language systems, and medieval urban minorities. Notably, she co-edited the journal Der Islam and was named a 2024–2025 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar.