معرفی
Paul J. Patterson serves as Professor of English in the Department of English, Writing and Journalism at Saint Joseph's University within the College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Program. He holds the additional role of Faculty Pre-Law Advisor and has previously taught at the University of Cincinnati and St. Joseph’s College of New York.
His academic credentials include:
- BS in Secondary Education, English, and Theology from Pillsbury College
- MA in English from Butler University
- MA in Medieval Literature from the University of Notre Dame
- PhD in Medieval Literature from the University of Notre Dame
Dr. Patterson specializes in late medieval religious writing with particular focus on manuscript studies, textual criticism, and book history. His research examines the material nature of texts and their relationship to religious practice, especially within Carthusian communities like Syon Abbey. He investigates how devotional texts such as the Speculum devotorum were produced, transmitted, and received in late medieval England, with significant attention to gender dynamics and Chaucer's legacy.
His publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with medieval manuscript culture, devotional literature, and textual authority across two decades. Recent works demonstrate deepening exploration of female readership, Carthusian book production, and the intersection of religious reform with literary transmission.
His research has been supported by prestigious awards including:
- NEH Summer Stipend (2011)
- Huntington Library / British Academy Exchange Fellowships (2011, 2010)
- Mellon Regional Faculty Fellowship (2011-12)
- Shallek Dissertation Award (2004-2005)
- Multiple Saint Joseph's University development grants
As an educator, Dr. Patterson emphasizes close reading and discussion-based pedagogy while serving as Faculty Pre-Law Advisor. He advises the "Parker’s Scribe" project within the Mellon Foundation-funded "Making Medieval English Manuscripts" digitization initiative and serves as Book Review Editor for the Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures. His professional affiliations include the Medieval Academy of America, New Chaucer Society, and Early Book Society.
