Mary Blanchard

Dr. Mary Blanchard is an Assistant Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at Ave Maria University. She holds a B.A. in History from Ave Maria University, an M.A. in Medieval Studies from Western Michigan University, and a D.Phil. in History from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on early medieval England, particularly the roles of secular and religious leaders in the 10th and 11th centuries, examining aristocratic family dynamics and political structures.

Dr. Blanchard has received grants from the Haskins Society, the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (Durham University), and the Laurel Family Fund to organize a 2023 conference at Durham University. In 2024, she became a Councilor at Large of the Haskins Society Council and joined the editorial board of Connections and Communities in the Middle Ages. Her work has been recognized with the Paul E. Szarmach First Article Award (2019) for her analysis of family strategy in medieval England.

Her recent publications include co-editing The Reigns of Edmund, Eadred, and Eadwig (2024) and contributing chapters on medieval queenship and legal history. She teaches courses on Medieval Europe, Vikings, and saints' lives, blending scholarly rigor with engaging pedagogy. Dr. Blanchard is also married to Professor Jacob Blanchard of the Biology department, illustrating the interdisciplinary spirit of Ave Maria University.