Genevieve Berendt came to Ohio State University from the University of Minnesota Morris, where she completed a triple bachelor’s degree in French, Anthropology, and Medieval Studies. From the moment she arrived, she hit the ground running and has remained an active and vital part of the graduate community.
After passing her M.A. exams in French, Genevieve participated in the Rennes Exchange Program, spending the 2021–2022 academic year living in Rennes, France and teaching at the Université de Rennes. During her time abroad, she took every opportunity to explore the region’s rich medieval heritage, spending nearly every weekend visiting a different castle or historic site.
Upon returning to OSU, Genevieve began work on her dissertation, which explores how female characters in medieval French literature from the 12th to the 14th centuries express environmental critique and anxiety through their interactions with the forest. Her work is grounded in ecofeminist theory and brings new insights into the environmental imagination of the medieval world.
Outside of her dissertation research, Genevieve has remained deeply involved in public scholarship. Together with fellow graduate student Michela Bertossa, she co-curated a Saturday Spotlight exhibit at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library titled “Women’s Health Narratives: Past & Present,” which brought together medieval and modern materials to explore how women have documented their health experiences across time.
In 2024, she was awarded the Bulatkin Summer Prize, which funded her participation in an intensive paleography course at the Newberry Library in Chicago. She used remaining summer funds to earn her Level 1 Sommelier certification, adding a unique interdisciplinary dimension to her interests.
That same summer, Genevieve had the opportunity to step beyond French literature and share her broader environmental interests at the 2024 Dublin Irish Festival, where she presented a public talk titled “Roots of Change: The Sacred History of Trees in Ireland.” Her presentation explored the cultural and spiritual significance of trees in Irish history and folklore, offering festivalgoers a thoughtful look at the intersections of nature, myth, and identity.
Every May, Genevieve attends the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she regularly connects with fellow medievalists from across the country. She describes this weekend as "Summer Camp for Medievalists!"
This fall, Genevieve will return to Minnesota to teach French and medieval environmental literature. We wish her all the best in her continued research and teaching!
