Vanessa Corcoran

Dr. Vanessa Corcoran is a Professor of History and Advising Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgetown University. She specializes in medieval and early modern religious history, with a focus on papal elections, Church governance, and Marian symbolism. Her research explores the intersection of historical traditions, ecclesiastical politics, and cultural practices.

Education includes a Ph.D. and A.M. in History from The Catholic University of America, and a B.A. in History from The College of the Holy Cross. Her scholarship has been featured in America Magazine, Today’s American Catholic, and Perspectives on History.

Key research areas include the history of papal conclaves, medieval pilgrimage traditions, and the evolution of Marian representations in literature and liturgy. Her recent work analyzes the 800-year traditions behind modern papal elections and their cultural significance.

Her blog It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint discusses academic life, remote work with family, and balancing professional demands. She actively contributes to public discourse on Catholic history through op-eds and media commentary.