Jessica Goethals

Dr. Jessica Goethals serves as Associate Professor of Italian in the Department of Modern Languages & Classics at the University of Alabama, where her research centers on medieval and early modern literature with particular emphasis on women writers and the literary repercussions of historical events like the 1527 Sack of Rome. Her scholarly profile reflects deep engagement with transnational and transhistorical methodologies across performance, gender, and violence studies.

Her academic training includes a PhD and MA in Italian Studies from New York University and a BA in Italian Literature and Culture from Northwestern University. This foundation supports her interdisciplinary approach to Renaissance cultural production.

Goethals' research interests prominently feature women's literary contributions in pre-modern Europe, especially through figures like Margherita Costa, alongside investigations into military history's literary representations, mysticism, prophecy, and theatrical spectacle. Her work consistently bridges historical context with textual analysis to examine how trauma, power, and gender intersect in cultural artifacts.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals sustained focus on Baroque-era women authors and the Sack of Rome's cultural legacy, with significant attention to Margherita Costa's multifaceted career as courtesan, singer, and writer. Her scholarship demonstrates methodological innovation through genre-bending studies that connect literary analysis with performance history and visual culture.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Renaissance Society of America’s William Nelson Prize (2017)
• Early Modern Women Journal Best Article Prize (2017-2018)
• Fellowships from Newberry Library, Folger Shakespeare Library, and Villa I Tatti
• Grants from Renaissance Society of America and American Philosophical Society

Substantial research support enables Goethals' archival work and collaborative projects, including translations of Costa's texts and media engagements like BBC Radio 4's In Our Time podcast on the Sack of Rome. Her current book project The Literary Sack of Rome (1527): Anticipation to Aftermath extends this trajectory through comprehensive examination of literary responses to the traumatic event.