معرفی
Lauren Mancia is a Professor of History at Brooklyn College, CUNY, specializing in medieval Christian devotional practices. She holds a PhD from Yale University (2013) and teaches courses on medieval and early modern history, monasticism, and the history of emotions. Her research focuses on 11th-12th century monastic devotional culture, particularly at the Abbey of John of Fécamp. She innovatively applies performance studies methodologies to understand medieval religious experience and communicates her work through exhibitions, reenactments, and public lectures.
Education:
- B.A., Columbia College, Columbia University (English/Medieval Studies), 2005
- M.A., Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto (Medieval Studies), 2006
- Ph.D., Yale University (History), 2013
Research Interests: Mancia examines medieval monasticism through artifacts, manuscripts, and rituals to understand how religious practices shaped self-identity. She bridges medieval studies with contemporary performance, arguing that embodied methods reveal pre-modern spiritual experiences. Her work emphasizes affective piety, humility, and the role of material culture in religious expression.
Publications: Her books include Emotional Monasticism (2019), Meditation and Prayer in the Eleventh- and Twelfth-Century Monastery (2025), and Embodied Epistemology as Rigorous Historical Method (2025). She co-edits the upcoming Fragments of Experience (2026) and publishes in journals like Memini and Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies.
Awards & Leadership:
- 2025-2026 CUNY Globalization & Social Change Fellow
- New York Medieval Society Teaching Award
- Medieval Academy of America Centennial Grant
- Chair, CARA (Medieval Academy's Committee on Centers and Regional Associations), 2024-2027
- Co-chair, Columbia University Seminar in Affect Studies
Exhibitions & Outreach: She co-organized the Magisterial Feminae exhibition at Brooklyn College Archives (2023) and directs performances of the York Mystery Cycle. She teaches at The Met Cloisters and the 92nd Street Y Roundtable series.
