Kersti Francis

Kersti Francis (she/they) is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Boston University Society of Fellows and a literary historian specializing in medieval and early modern periods. Their research intersects history of science, power networks, and LGBTQ+ studies, with a focus on queer imaginaries in premodern literature. They hold a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in English and Medieval/Renaissance Studies from UCLA and Bryn Mawr College.

Education:

• Ph.D. in English, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A. in English, University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A. in Medieval/Renaissance Studies and English, Bryn Mawr College

Research focuses on queer magic in medieval texts, historophilia (eroticism between past/present), and alchemy’s role in Latin Christian and Islamic worlds. Their current book project Queer Magic: Sodomy, Sin and The Supernatural examines how medieval authors used magical frameworks to explore queer and trans identities. A second project, Fetishizing the Past, analyzes temporal desire in medieval narratives.

Supported by the Mellon Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation, and National Science Foundation, their work appears in Medieval Feminist Forum, Comitatus, and podcasts like The Multicultural Middle Ages. Awards include the 2020 Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship’s Best Graduate Essay Prize.

Advancement efforts include workshops on public medievalist scholarship and non-academic career paths. No formal advisees listed. Active in digital humanities through collaborative manuscript editing projects like Le Pèlerinage de Damoiselle Sapience.