Selection Process

A program committee and two groups of contributing reviewers (for sponsored and special sessions and for general sessions, respectively) evaluate proposals for contributions to the academic program of the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University. 

  • Program Committee

    The program committee evaluates proposals for sponsored and special sessions and decides on their acceptance or rejection (in June). This committee also oversees the creation of general sessions (in November). Members of the program committee for the 60th Congress are:

    • Robert F. Berkhofer, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University
    • Lofton Durham, Department of Theatre, Western Michigan University
    • David Kutzko, Department of World Languages and Literatures, Western Michigan University
    • Jana K. Schulman, Department of English, Western Michigan University
    • Theresa Whitaker, Medieval Institute Publications
  • Contributing Reviewers (Sponsored and Special Sessions)

    The body of contributing reviewers for sponsored and special sessions comprises ten reviewers serving two-year terms, five in their first year and five in their second, all selected from among self-nominated volunteers by a committee of the Board of the Medieval Institute. The program committee takes their assessments into consideration in the acceptance and rejection of proposed sessions.

    Contributing Reviewers for the 59th and 60th Congresses

    • Amina Boukail, University of Jijel
    • Barbara Crostini, Uppsala University
    • Brenna Duperron, Dalhousie University
    • Ruth Evans, Saint Louis University
    • Johannes Junge Ruhland, University of Notre Dame

    Contributing Reviewers for the 60th and 61st Congresses

    • Mary Flannery, University of Bern
    • Polina Ignatova, Linköping University
    • Kyle C. Lincoln, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
    • Andrew Benjamin Salzmann, Benedictine College
    • Mark Singer, Minot State University

    Volunteer to Serve as a Contributing Reviewer

    Self-nominations to serve as a contributing reviewer include a required statement of interest (350-word limit), an optional list of academic organizations that you are associated with, as well as an optional description of your activities in and service to the field of medieval studies. You are also welcome to include information about yourself that might help the selection committee better understand how you would contribute to the desired diversity and inclusion of the body of contributing reviewers.

    Self-nominations to serve as a contributing reviewer for the 60th and 61st Congresses were due on June 1.

  • Contributing Reviewers (General Sessions)

    These contributing reviewers evaluated paper proposals submitted to the general sessions or transferred to the general pool from sponsored and special sessions for the 59th Congress.

    • Justin Barney, Department of World Languages and Literatures, Western Michigan University
    • Robert F. Berkhofer, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University
    • Luke Conklin, Independent Scholar
    • Lofton L. Durham, Department of Theatre, Western Michigan University
    • David Kutzko, Department of World Languages and Literatures, Western Michigan University
    • Sarah Noonan, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame
    • Linda Rouillard, University of Toledo
    • Thomas C. Sawyer, University of Chicago
    • Jana K. Schulman, Department of English, Western Michigan University
    • Anise Strong, Department of History, Western Michigan University
    • Elizabeth C. Teviotdale, CMRS Center for Early Global Studies, University of California–Los Angeles
    • Grace Tiffany, Department of English, Western Michigan University
    • Kevin J. Wanner, Department of Comparative Religion, Western Michigan University