Department of English

Professor Rita Copeland’s Emotion and the History of Rhetoric in the Middle Ages has won the 2025 Haskins Medal, the most prestigious Medieval Academy of America publication prize. 

The Haskins Medal is awarded annually by the Medieval Academy of America for a distinguished book in the field of medieval studies. It is the Academy's most prestigious award and is usually granted to a relatively senior scholar for a work of their maturity. Seniority is not an absolute requirement, but the award seems especially worthy if it recognizes both a distinguished book and a fruitful career.

First presented in 1940, the award honors Charles Homer Haskins, the noted medieval historian, who was a founder of the Medieval Academy and its second President. The award is announced at the annual meeting of the Academy each spring. The medal was designed in 1939 by Graham Carey, and the name of the recipient and the year of the award are engraved on the edge.

Congratulations, Professor Copeland!