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Gavin Richardson

University Professor of English

About

Dr. Gavin Richardson received his B.A. in English and Classics from Vanderbilt University and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. At Union he has taught classical and medieval courses, including seminars on the Aeneid, Beowulf, Chaucer, and the History of the English Language. Dr. Richardson has presented papers at conferences sponsored by the International Congress of Medieval Studies, the Southeastern Medievalist Association, and Christianity in the Academy. His most recent publication, “Judas’s Other Pieces of Silver: The Biblical Denarius and the Art of Translation,” examines the treatment of the Roman denarius in English translations of the New Testament and argues for the importance of preserving the coin’s literal value in interpreting the Gospel narratives. In 2023, Dr. Richardson secured a grant from the Lilly Foundation to design a mentoring program for senior faculty, and he currently sits on the UU SASCOC Reaffirmation Executive Committee. Dr. Richardson has twice won the Newell Innovative Teaching Award, and in 2012 he was named Union University Faculty of the Year.

Education

  • Ph.D, University of Illinois

  • M.A., University of Illinois

  • B.A., Vanderbilt University

Scholarship

Books

Articles

Presentations

  • Reading Beowulf, Reading Christ: What Tolkien Taught Me About the Gospels (2026)

    Classical Educators’ Conference, Union University

  • The Medieval Epistola Diaboli Tradition and The Screwtape Letters (2022)

    Christianity in the Academy Conference, St. Giles Church

  • Constantine’s Problematic ‘Friendship’ with Sol Invictus: The Numismatic Evidence. (2019)

    Christianity in the Academy Conference, St. Giles Church

  • The Literary King Arthur, Part 1: The Arthur of Geoffrey (2018)

    The Inklings Weekend in Montreat: King Arthur and the Inklings

  • The Literary King Arthur, Part 2: The Arthur of Malory (2018)

    The Inklings Weekend in Montreat: King Arthur and the Inklings

  • ‘Of Ministers in the Church’: Lollard Antipapal Polemic on the Eve of the Reformation (2017)

    REF500: A Festival Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation

  • Lady Macbeth’s Wassail (2015)

    Forty-first Annual Conference of the Southeastern Medieval Association, Univ. of Central Arkansas

  • Hoccleve’s Tale of Jonathas and the Charismatic Object (2013)

    New York University Medieval and Renaissance Center Annual Spring Conference: Charisma

  • A Matter Tried by Custom’: The Medieval King James Bible (2011)

    KJV400: Legacy and Impact

  • Henryson’s Proxy Avengers: Male Revenge Fantasy in the ‘Testament of Cresseid’ (2010)

    Forty-fourth International Congress on Medieval Studies

  • The Bursting of the Womb: Male Revenge Fantasy and Hoccleve’s Tale of Jonathas (2008)

    34th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Medieval Association

  • Medieval Manuscripts & the Processus Contra Templarios (2008)

    Lambuth University Lecture Series on the Knights Templar

  • Constantine the Great: Christianity, Community, Art, & Propaganda–A Numismatic Lecture (2008)

    Society for the Critical Imagination

  • Practical Paelography in the Chaucer Classroom (2007)

    42nd International Congress on Medieval Studies

  • Leading Men: An Analysis of a Romano-Byzantine Gesture (2005)

    Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Medieval Association

  • Sex and Secrecy in Medieval Antifeminist Proverbs (2003)

    38th International Congress on Medieval Studies

  • Language & Landscape: Mahmoud Darwish & Jehuda Amichai (2002)

    Union University Town & Gown Series on Israel and Palestine

  • The Literature of Islam (2002)

    Union University Town & Gown Lecture Series on Islam

  • Mary Magdalene in the English Mystery Plays (2001)

    Southeastern Medieval Association

  • For hit ys an olde-seyde sawe…’: Proverbial Authority and the Denial of Agency in Malory’s Le Morte Darthur (1999)

    34th International Congress on Medieval Studies

  • Gnomic Generalization and Situational Ethics in Layamon’s Brut (1996)

    2nd Annual Colloquium for Philology in Germanic Studies at Illinois and Indiana

  • Langland’s Mary Magdalene and the Problem of Authority (1996)

    The Medieval Association of the Midwest 12th Annual Conference

  • Judas’ Bread and Stone: The Proverbial Background of Elene 611-618 and the Problem of Choice (1996)

    Illinois Medieval Association's 13th Annual Meeting

  • A World Without the Word: Gnomic Manipulation in Hrafnkels Saga (1995)

    30th International Congress on Medieval Studies

  • Narratology and Sapientia in the Old English Daniel (1993)

    28th International Congress on Medieval Studies