Simonetta Cochis

Simonetta Cochis is a Professor in the Foreign Language, International Affairs department at Transylvania University. She specializes in French literature, medieval manuscripts, and innovative pedagogical methods integrating performance. Since 1995, she has been part of La Compagnie Gaillarde, a troupe merging scholarship with performance to teach medieval farce and narratives.

Education:

• Ph.D., New York University, 1998
• M.A., SUNY Stony Brook, 1989
• B.A., SUNY Stony Brook, 1983

Research Interests: Dr. Cochis explores the interplay between medieval manuscripts and performance, emphasizing how oral traditions and visual/textual layouts (e.g., pagination, imagery) shaped literary interpretation. She also investigates French literature’s engagement with environmental themes and sustainability, including comparative studies between Lexington and its sister city Deauville, France.

Teaching Innovations: Cochis uses performance to demystify French literature, encouraging students to embody characters and analyze medieval texts through actor methodologies. Her courses incorporate hands-on projects like a medieval herb garden in Transylvania’s community garden, blending nature studies with cultural history.

Collaborations: She co-leads workshops on medieval farce with colleagues and actively involves students in research, such as her first-year seminar projects and sustainability-focused initiatives.