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Jennifer N. Brown

  • Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor, English and Media Studies
  • Ph.D. in English, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York
  • M.A. in English, Georgetown University
  • B.A. in English, Georgetown University

Bio

Dr. Jennifer N. Brown holds a PhD in English and doctoral certificates in Women’s Studies and Medieval Studies from the City University of New York, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Georgetown University. She is a distinguished scholar in English and world literatures, with a research and teaching specialty in the medieval literature of England, written by and for women. She has two monographs, three co-edited collections, and several articles on the subject. Her debut novel, The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton, is set to be published by St. Martin’s Press in April 2026. Prior to her appointment at Bentley, Dr. Brown serves as Chair of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of English and World Literatures at Marymount Manhattan College. 

Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

Journal Articles

  • Brown, J. N. (2021). The Material of Vernacular English Devotion: Temptation and Sweetness in Ancrene Wisse and Richard Rolle's Form of Living. Early Middle English, (3) 123-30.
  • Brown, J. N. (2015). The Many Misattributions of Catherine of Siena: Beyond The Orchard in England. The Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures, (41) 67-84.
  • Brown, J. N. (2013). In Defense of Disciplinarity: A Case From the Trenches. Postmedieval Forum: Forum IV: Pedagogy (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2010). The Chaste Erotics of Marie d’Oignes and Jacques de Vitry. Journal of the History of Sexuality , (19) 1 74-93.
  • Brown, J. N. (2009). The Vitae of Edward the Confessor and the Bayeux Tapestry. Peregrinations: The Journal of the International Society for the Study of Pilgrimage Art, (II) 4 166-82.
  • Brown, J. N. (2007). Translating Edward the Confessor: Feminism, Time and Hagiography. Medieval Feminist Forum, (43) 46-57.
  • Brown, J. (2005). Elizabeth of Spalbeek’s Body: Performatio Christi. Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History , (11) 70-88.
  • Brown, J. N. (2002). Julian of Norwich: The Rule of St. Benedict and Envisioning Jesus. Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History 8 62-76.

    • Books

  • Brown, J. N., Rice, N. R. (2021). Manuscript Culture and Medieval Devotional Traditions: Essays in Honor of Michael G. Sargent York, England: York Medieval Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2018). Fruit of the Orchard: Catherine of Siena in Late Medieval and Early Modern England Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N., Segol, M. (2013). Sexuality, Sociality and Cosmology in Medieval Texts New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan (Link)
  • Brown, J. N., Bussell, D. A. (2012). Barking Abbey and Medieval Literary Culture: Authorship and Authority in a Female Community. York, England: York Medieval Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2008). Three Women of Liège: A Critical Edition of and Commentary on the Middle English Lives of Elizabeth of Spalbeek, Christina mirabilis, and Marie d’Oignies, (23) Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Press (Link)

    • Book Chapters

  • Brown, J. N. (2025). Mysticism, Misattribution, and The Fifteen Oes The Medieval Mystical Tradition in England. Cambridge, England: D.S. Brewer (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2024). Visionary Women, the Papal Schism and the Hundred Years War: Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Siena in Medieval England Literatures of the Hundred Years War. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2023). Speaking Beyond the Anchorhold in Richard Rolle's Form of Living Women and Devotional Literature in the Middle Ages; Giving Voice to Silence. Cambridge, U.K.: D.S. Brewer (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2023). She Said: Female Agency and Voice in Middle English Hagiographic Accounts Writing Holiness: Genre and Reception across Medieval Hagiography. Turnhout, Belgium : Brepols Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2022). Female Friendship and Visionary Women Women's Friendship in Medieval Literature. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2021). The Body of the Nun and the Syon 'Additions' Manuscript Culture and Medieval Devotional Traditions: Essays in Honor of Michael G. Sargent. York, U.K.: University of York Medieval Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2013). From the Charterhouse to the Printing House: Catherine of Siena in Medieval England Middle English Religious Writing in Practice: Texts, Readers, and Transformations. Turnhout, Belgium : Brepols Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2013). Cosmology and Sexuality in Robert Henryson's Orpheus and Eurydice Sexuality, Sociality and Cosmology in Medieval Texts. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan
  • Brown, J. N. (2012). Body, Gender, and Nation in the Nun of Barking's Vie of Edward the Confessor Barking Abbey and Medieval Literary Culture: Authorship and Authority in a Female Community. York, U.K. : University of York Medieval Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2011). Gender, Confession, and Authority: MS Douce 114 in the Fifteenth Century After Arundel: Religious Writing in 15th Century England. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2010). Subject, Object, and Mantra in the Wohunge of Ure Lauerd The Milieu and Context of the Wohunge Group. Cardiff, Wales: University of Wales Press (Link)
  • Brown, J. N. (2009). ‘Cut From Its Stump:’ Translating Edward the Confessor and the Dream of the Green Tree Medieval Translator Volume XII. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Press