Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan is an Associate Professor of History at the University of New Mexico and Director of the Institute for Medieval Studies. His research focuses on the social, cultural, and intellectual history of the medieval and early modern Mediterranean, with specializations in apocalypticism, the occult, and gender/sexuality studies. Ryan holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (2005) and previously taught at Purdue University before joining UNM in 2011.

Education:

• B.A., History, University of Florida, 1995 (high honors)
• M.A., History, Western Michigan University, 1998
• Ph.D., History, University of Minnesota, 2005

Research Interests:

• Medieval and early modern Mediterranean societies
• Intersection of magic, science, and religion
• Apocalyptic beliefs and societal impacts
• Interfaith relations between Christians, Muslims, and Jews
• Gender and sexuality in premodern contexts

His current monograph project examines charlatans and magical fraud in the later Middle Ages.

Awards:

• H. P. Krause Fellowship (2012) for research at Yale University's Beinecke Library
• NEH Summer Institute Participant (2010) on Mediterranean cultural hybridities

Teaching and Professionalization:

• Offers courses on medieval Mediterranean history, apocalyptic themes, and premodern Iberian studies
• Active in professional development workshops for graduate students