Carol Symes

Carol Symes is a distinguished Professor of History and Director of the Program in Medieval Studies at the University of Illinois. She holds joint appointments in Theatre, Classics, and affiliations with the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory. Her research focuses on premodern documentary cultures, medieval performance practices, and the role of media in shaping historical narratives. Symes is renowned for her work on medieval theatre, including the groundbreaking book A Common Stage: Theater and Public Life in Medieval Arras, which redefined premodern media studies.

Education: Ph.D. in History from Harvard University; M.Litt. from Oxford; B.A. in Humanities from Yale; professional actor training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Research interests encompass global medieval connections, the interplay between performance and text, and the medieval legacy in modern contexts. She co-founded The Medieval Globe, a journal promoting interdisciplinary global medieval studies, and has edited influential volumes like Cities, Texts and Social Networks, 400-1500.

Recent work includes projects on modern war’s impact on medieval heritage, Shakespearean performance histories, and the Education Justice Project’s prison theatre initiatives. Awards include the Medieval Academy’s Kindrick-CARA Award and University Scholar recognition.

Teaching accolades include the Queen Teaching Prize and Dean’s Excellence Award. She advises on grants and has secured funding from NEH, ACLS, Mellon, and others. Current doctoral supervision spans topics from medieval soil symbolism to transnational sound studies and Ottoman museology.

Labs/Teams: Co-director of the Education Justice Project’s Theatre Initiative; collaborator on The Medieval Globe journal; contributor to interdisciplinary medieval studies networks.