Sherri Olson

Sherri Olson is a Professor in the History Department at the University of Connecticut (UConn), specializing in Medieval European social history with a focus on rural society. She served as Co-Director of the Medieval Studies Program from 2009 to 2014 and as Undergraduate Director in the History Department during the same period. She has been actively involved in outreach, organizing the Annual Medieval Studies/Early College Experience Secondary Schools Outreach since 1998.

Research Interests: Her scholarship delves into village government and society, popular culture, and the interactions between monks, nuns, and peasants from the 12th to 15th centuries. Her work provides nuanced insights into the daily lives, social structures, and cultural practices of medieval rural communities.

Publications: Her research output includes monographs such as Daily Life in a Medieval Monastery (2013) and A Mute Gospel: The People and Culture of the Medieval English Common Fields (2009), alongside numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. These works collectively explore themes of monastic life, gender roles in villages, and the legal and social frameworks of medieval communities.

Contact: She can be reached at sherri.olson@uconn.edu or visited at Wood Hall, Room 229, on the Storrs campus.