Virginie Adane

Virginie Adane is a Lecturer in modern history at the University of Nantes, specializing in Colonial History, Atlantic & Global History, with particular expertise in Vast Early America/New York, Dutch Empire, British Empire, Slavery, and Women & Gender studies. She teaches courses across multiple levels including L1 Renaissance Europe, L2 Living in the city in Europe and the Americas (17th-18th centuries), L3 Europe and the World in the Modern Era, and L3 Women and Gender in Early Modern Societies. She also serves as Head of Master 1 Public History.

Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, colonialism, and power structures in early American history, with particular attention to Dutch colonial contexts. Dr. Adane's work challenges traditional masculine narratives of American history by placing women at the center of historical analysis across twenty key moments from Pocahontas to the #MeToo movement.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on women's roles in colonial societies, Dutch-American history, and the construction of historical narratives. She has authored multiple books including 'Women in America: A History of the United States from Pocahontas to #MeToo' (2025) and '1619: The Other Origin of the United States' (2025), along with numerous scholarly articles examining gender relations in New Netherland and early American societies.

• Secretary of RéDEHJA (Network for the European Development of the History of Young America)
• Member of the ANR AMERICA 2026 program promotion committee
• Member of the Nantes Histoire board of directors

Dr. Adane is highly active in public history, hosting the radio program 'The Paths of History' on Euradio and appearing regularly on France Info, Europe 1, and History TV. Her media presence demonstrates her commitment to making historical scholarship accessible to broader audiences while challenging traditional historical narratives that have marginalized women's contributions.