Shannon Godlove

Dr. Shannon Godlove serves as Professor and Department Chair of the English Department at Columbus State University. Her academic career focuses on medieval literature and language, with special expertise in Old and Middle English texts. She has established herself as a leading scholar in Anglo-Saxon religious literature and has received recognition for her teaching excellence and scholarly contributions.

Dr. Godlove's educational background includes:

• PhD in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• MA in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• BA in Medieval Studies with a minor in English from Smith College

Her research explores the influence of concepts of apostleship, mission, and preaching on the constructions of authorship and sanctity in Anglo-Saxon religious literature, both Old English and Anglo-Latin. She is also interested in issues of travel, place, and cultural identity in the Middle Ages, as well as Old Norse-Icelandic literature. Her work bridges literary analysis with historical and religious studies, examining how medieval writers used biblical models to construct authority and sanctity.

Dr. Godlove's scholarly publications demonstrate a consistent focus on hagiography, apostolic identity, and the intersection of religious and cultural identities in medieval literature. Her work spans Old English poetry, medieval saints' lives, Chaucer studies, and Icelandic sagas, revealing her broad expertise across medieval literary traditions. She has made significant contributions to understanding how medieval writers used biblical models, particularly Pauline discourse, to construct religious authority and identity.

Her notable achievements include:

• Columbus State University Teaching Excellence Award (2016)
• CSU nominee for University System of Georgia's Felton J. Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award

Dr. Godlove has served in various academic roles beyond her departmental chair position, including as Faculty-in-Residence for RiverPark Campus student housing and at CSU's Spencer House in Oxford, UK. She was an Honors College Faculty Fellow for 2021-2023 and serves as Book Review Editor for Medieval Perspectives, the peer-reviewed journal of the Southeastern Medieval Association. Her commitment to the academic community extends to editorial work, professional organization leadership, and maintaining active scholarly engagement through conferences and collaborations.

As Department Chair, Dr. Godlove leads the English Department while maintaining an active research agenda. Her leadership has helped shape the department's focus on both traditional literary studies and innovative interdisciplinary approaches to medieval and early modern literature, ensuring continued academic excellence and relevance.