Nancy Caciola

Nancy Caciola is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), specializing in medieval history with a focus on the religious and social construction of identities. She served as Director of UCSD's Program for the Study of Religion during 2004-2005. Her education includes a BA from Wesleyan University and an MA/PhD from the University of Michigan.

Her research explores themes such as spirit possession, death rituals, and communal memory in medieval Europe. Notable publications include Discerning Spirits (2003) and articles on revenants, exorcism, and medieval demonology. Her work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2000 Berkshire Conference Article Prize and the 1998 Van Courtlandt Elliot Prize.

She teaches courses on medieval Europe, medieval women's history, and the intersection of paganism and Christianity. Current research examines medieval concepts of life-death boundaries and post-mortem return phenomena.