Theresa Tinkle

Theresa Tinkle is a Professor of English and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA (1989) and specializes in medieval literature, gender studies, and pedagogy. Her research explores intersections of gender, power, and religion in medieval exegesis and literary works such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. She teaches courses on Chaucer, medieval literature, and pedagogical theory.

• Education: Ph.D., UCLA, 1989
• Affiliations: Graduate Faculty, Comparative Literature, Medieval Studies

Her research interests include medieval exegesis, material culture, drama, and editorial theory. Notable publications include Gender and Power in Medieval Exegesis (2010) and Imagining Jesus Christ in Medieval England (2024). Her recent articles address neurodiversity in education and medieval religious texts.

Recipient of numerous awards, including the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize (2012) and multiple LS&A Excellence in Education Awards. Her pedagogical work emphasizes inclusive teaching strategies and neurodiversity advocacy.

Current courses include Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales and Themes in Language and Literature. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on pedagogy and medieval textual studies.