Medieval Institute

Medieval Institute
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5432 USA
(269) 387-8745

Events

The Medieval Institute sponsors visiting lectures and social events throughout the year, as well as workshops on pedagogy and professional development for MA students. We work in collaboration with The Medieval Research Group and the Goliardic Society, which organize events open to all interested medievalists in a variety of venues. 

We also seek to foster fellowship and intellectual exchange among students and faculty at WMU and with members of the Kalamazoo community interested in Medieval Studies. If you have questions regarding any of the events listed, please contact us. 

Fall 2025 Events

These events are open to all Medieval Studies students, faculty, staff, and interested members of the WMU community. 

  • August 8 & August 15, Summer Paleography Workshops
    • 1:00pm–5:00pm, Hybrid (RRC & Webex)
    • For students of the Medieval Institute & affiliated departments, alumni, and community members
  • September 5, Welcome Reception
    • 5:00pm–7:00pm, Walwood Lobby & RRC
    • All students, staff, faculty, and friends

The events below are only required for TAs unless otherwise noted. These are held in the Richard Rawlinson Center.

  • August 22, Medieval Institute Graduate Student Orientation
    • 9:00am–5:00pm
    • Includes lunch, tour of the Zhang Legacy Collections Center and campus, TA training 
    • Required for new MA students and all TAs
  • August 29, Fall Advising Meeting (followed by individual advising meetings)
    • 1:00pm–2:00pm
    • Required for all MA students 
  • September 5, TA Training: Grading part 1
    • 1:00pm–2:00pm
  • September 12, TA Training: Grading, part 2
    • 1:00pm–2:00pm
  • October 3, TA Training: Designing prompts and exams
    • 1:00pm–2:00pm

Medieval Studies graduate students are encouraged to attend these workshops. Interested graduate students from affiliated programs may also attend. These are held in the Richard Rawlinson Center. 

  • September 26, Seeking Funding for Research and Travel
    • 1:00pm–2:00pm

Medieval Research Group is a joint initiative of the Medieval Institute and the Zhang Legacy Collections at Western Michigan University to create opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to carry out research, learn about university resources, share their work with others, and build community. For more information, visit the MRG page on our website.  

  • August 29
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • September 5
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • September 12
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • September 19
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • September 26
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • October 3
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • October 10
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • October 24
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • October 31
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • November 7
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • November 14
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
    • Quaestio, 3:00pm–4:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
  • November 21
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • December 5
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center

Spring 2025 Events

All workshops meet on Fridays from 1:00pm–2:30pm in the RRC, unless otherwise noted.

  • January 12
    • Spring advising meetings with Professor Berkhofer 
    • Required for all Medieval Institute MA students
  • February 7
    • Expressing Values through Practice: Teaching Philosophies in the Classroom with Professor Lofty Durham
    • Required for all GAs assigned to teaching, but open to others who would like to attend 
  • February 21
    • Applying for PhD Programs with Professors Schulman and Berkhofer
    • Open to all Medieval Institute MA students, alumni, and graduate students in affiliated departments 
  • March 28
    • 12:30pm–2:00pm
    • Digital Humanities and Teaching Old French Literature with Professors Lynn Ramey and Jake Abell (Loew Series Workshop)
    • Required for all GAs assigned to teaching, but open to others who would like to attend 
  • January 10, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Quaestio, 3:00pm–4:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
      • Special showcase featuring nine medieval manuscripts temporarily on loan from the Newberry Library
  • January 17, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
  • January 24, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • February 7, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
  • February 14, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Quaestio, 3:00pm–4:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
      • Pablo Pastrana-Perez presents on the Libro de Buen Amor
  • February 28, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
      • Presentation by Hunter Morgan, "Becoming Parceval: How Parcevals saga "Translates" Chrétien's Hero for a Norse Audience" 
  • March 14, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
  • March 21, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
  • March 28, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • April 4, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
  • April 11, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Quaestio, 3:00pm–4:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center
      • Bob Berkhofer presents on the Trial against the Templars facsimile collection
  • April 25, 2025
    • Studium, 10:00am–12:00pm, Zhang Legacy Collections Center 
    • Colloquium, 6:00pm–8:00pm, Off-campus
  • February 22, Chant as Early Music: Toward a Nuanced Performance of Gregorian Chant
    • 2:00pm, First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
    • This workshop is sponsored by Early Music Michigan; visit their website for more information.