Gennifer Dorgan

Gennifer Dorgan serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Latin at Assumption University, teaching German and Latin courses since 2019 while completing her PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (expected 2026). Her interdisciplinary scholarship focuses on medieval multilingual literary traditions, particularly German and Latin translations of mystical texts like Mechthild of Magdeburg’s Flowing Light of the Godhead, and she actively collaborates with the D’Alzon Library to enhance accessibility of medieval manuscript collections.

Her academic credentials include:

• BA in German Area Studies from Kenyon College (2013)
• MA in Medieval Studies from the University of Connecticut (2016)
• PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (expected 2026)

Dr. Dorgan’s research examines intersections of gender, linguistics, and religious expression in medieval literature, analyzing how texts were transmitted across linguistic boundaries within mystical and devotional contexts. Her methodological approach combines philological rigor with cultural studies to uncover gender dynamics in works like Ancrene Wisse and the influence of apocryphal sources on Old English homilies.

Her publications reveal consistent engagement with textual transmission and manuscript culture, with the 2021 article dissecting rhetorical constructions of gender in Ancrene Wisse and the 2016 piece tracing Visio Pauli’s impact on Old English homilies. Collectively, these works demonstrate expertise in linguistic adaptation, cultural exchange, and the role of women in medieval religious communities across Germanic and English traditions.

Through her collaboration with the D’Alzon Library, Dr. Dorgan has developed a specialized research guide for medieval manuscripts and delivered presentations like 'Treasures on Vellum' (2023), significantly expanding access to primary sources for students and faculty while fostering interdisciplinary engagement with material culture from the medieval period.