Linda Gale Jones

Linda Gale Jones is a Research Professor at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), specializing in the religious and cultural history of medieval al-Andalus and the Maghreb (12th-15th centuries). Her work focuses on gender dynamics, masculinity in medieval Islam, and trans-cultural encounters between Islam and Christendom in Iberia and the Mediterranean. She has led two major research projects funded by the Spanish government and EU, exploring religious, transcultural, and gendered identities in the medieval Mediterranean. Jones holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has held prestigious post-doctoral positions, including a Ramón y Cajal Research Professorship (UPF, 2014-2018) and a Juan de la Cierva fellowship at the CSIC (2007-2010). She has authored award-winning monographs, edited volumes, and numerous articles, including The Power of Oratory in the Medieval Muslim World (Cambridge, 2012).

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara (2004)
• Ramón y Cajal Research Professorship, UPF (2014–2018)
• Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Position, CSIC (2007–2010)

Research Focus: Jones’ work analyzes textual representations of gender, Islamic oratory, and interfaith dynamics in medieval Iberia. Key themes include:

• Medieval Islamic preaching practices
• Masculinity and gender roles in Almohad, Nasrid, and Mudejar texts
• Comparative studies of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sermons
• Cultural exchanges in the Mediterranean

Grants and Awards:

• Malcolm H. Kerr Award (2004)
• Fulbright Hays, Ford Foundation, and NEH grants
• Principal Investigator for EU-funded projects (2016–2022)

Professional Roles:

• Vice-President of the International Medieval Sermon Studies Society (IMSSS)
• Editorial Board Member, Sermon Studies
• Organizer of international conferences on gender, religion, and medieval sermons