Laurie Shannon
Laurie Shannon received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989 and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1996. As the E. Blake Byrne Associate Professor of English, Dr. Shannon helps students make unexpected connections between literary works in a variety of fields of interest ranging from medieval to modern. As summarized in one of her nominations and demonstrated in the quotes that follow, “ By modeling outstanding pedagogy, rigorous scholarship, collegiality, and engagement with the several facets of academic life, she has fostered (and continues to foster) well-rounded excellence in those fortunate to work under her direction.”
“Professor Shannon has a talent for recognizing and encouraging ambitious and creative work while at the same time instilling practical competence (namely, well-written and thoroughly-researched projects). She is invested in student projects -- indeed, in student thinking -- in such a way that balances exciting and energetic work with successful and timely completion. This must certainly be time-consuming, but Professor Shannon seems always available to discuss student projects and progress and to give insightful, meaningful feedback. She is easily the most accessible professor on campus and it is this joyful willingness to engage students that marks all of her endeavors, including those beyond the letter of the dissertation.”
“Professor. Shannon's rigorous feedback on my written work -- whether seminar papers or dissertation chapters -- has suggested themes to develop further, ideas to specify, and other texts to consider; each point is measured and specifically articulated to promote my thought processes, not to inject hers into my work. As a result, I am gaining a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses as a scholar.”
“Professor Shannon's excellent publications speak for themselves as great works of scholarship; it is my hope that, in nominating her for this award, they might also be recognized as exemplary in their capacity to model great scholarship for her students.”
“I was impressed by her personal warmth and that she seemed to treat me as an equal, not in terms of academic achievement, which would be false, but at a human level. This is an impression I get every time I go to see her, even when she's obviously busy and tired, and I think it's a very valuable quality in a mentor, since I think that as graduate students we often occupy an embattled head-space, mostly due to our own slightly tortured personalities. Laurie demonstrates a genuine humility that I find to be rare in academia and elsewhere, but that is an integral part of her intelligence.”
“Perhaps most inspiring, is Professor Shannon's own commitment to the academic community thorough her tireless committee work, departmental leadership, and directing of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. In isolation, any one of these activities would speak to a professor's firm dedication to her work. In Professor Shannon's case, however, the combination of these efforts reveals nothing less than a passion for scholarship and for mentoring a generation of engaged, rigorous teacher-researchers.”