Elizabeth Freeman

Dr. Elizabeth Freeman is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval European History at the University of Tasmania's School of Humanities. Her research focuses on medieval monasticism, particularly the Cistercian Order, emphasizing gender dynamics and institutional history. She teaches courses on medieval European history, the Renaissance, and Reformation eras. Dr. Freeman holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, specializing in Cistercian historical writing.

Her research explores monastic identity construction through manuscripts and administrative documents, with recent work on Cistercian nuns' roles in preserving liturgical texts. Key contributions include studies of gendered monastic practices and the impact of the Fourth Lateran Council on religious women. She has been awarded the Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship's Best Article Award (2013) for her work on Hampole Priory's literary culture.

• Education:
  • PhD: University of Melbourne (Cistercian Historical Writing in England, 1150-1220)
  • MA: University of Melbourne
  • BA (Hons): University of Melbourne
  • Graduate Certificates: Australian Catholic University (Education and Religious Education)

Dr. Freeman serves on advisory boards for Cistercian Studies Quarterly and the Europa Sacra book series. Her funded projects include investigations into medieval Cistercian manuscripts in Australian libraries and the history of English Cistercian nuns. She has supervised six doctoral and master’s students, focusing on topics like medieval monasticism, religious women’s roles, and late medieval societal structures.

Her interdisciplinary research bridges monastic history with gender studies, contributing to both academic and monastic audiences through international journal publications. Current projects examine the gendered aspects of monastic institutionalization and the preservation of medieval liturgical manuscripts by Cistercian communities.