I am a historian of pre-modern Europe, and late medieval cities, business and economics. I teach courses on medieval and early modern Europe. My research entails studying the market networks and social networks that shaped the urban and regional economy, as well as theories about how economies change. Preindustrial cities and the ways people came together to pursue their collective economic lives fascinate me. 

I served as St. Olaf’s provost and dean of the college 2011-25. In that role, I oversaw the academic division of the college, including the Libraries and IT; Government, Foundations and Corporate Relations; Academic Advising, Academic Success Center; Registrar; Smith Center for Global Engagement; Academic Civic Engagement; Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment; and a variety of Department of Education TRIO programs. I oversaw the implementation of a new Core curriculum, advanced academic advising, expanded undergraduate research, worked with donors and administration to make possible college semester-long programs at a cost to students no more than that of on-campus attendance, oversaw the implementation of the current academic advising system, and moved the faculty from a 6 to a 5-course load. My tenure as provost and dean of the college also entailed To Include is To Excel, Digital Humanities on the Hill, and Broadening the Bridge (this last in partnership with neighboring Carleton College) initiatives funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation. In support of teaching and learning, I have also presented and co-led workshops on the topics of interdisciplinary teaching and space planning, and served on the Board of the American Conference of Academic Deans for several years, including as Board Chair. I serve as a peer reviewer and member of the Institutional Actions Council for the Higher Learning Commission.

Before coming to St. Olaf, I served Grinnell College (IA) in various capacities, including as professor of history, department chair and program director, associate dean of the college, vice president of institutional planning, and interim vice president for college and alumni relations. As a member of the History Department, I taught courses in history, the Freshman Tutorial, and Grinnell-in-London, and team-taught in an interdisciplinary course on medieval and renaissance culture. I garnered a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to lead the development of a new kind of introduction to the study of history (“Cross-cultural Encounters”). As VP for Institutional Planning, I led college budget, capital and strategic planning; oversaw facilities management; led the development of interdisciplinary programs and a “sophomore retreat”; partnered to implement academic and institutional assessment. In that role I also oversaw the art gallery and the office of community enhancement. Activities as interim VP for College Relations included oversight of advancement, communications, and alumni/parent relations. 

I live in Northfield with my husband. We love to travel (mostly so that I can get into an archive). I am happiest walking outside–whether up a mountain or around the neighborhood– and spending time my adult daughter (a liberal arts college grad!).