USD History Professor Named Fellow of Medieval Academy of America

Professor of History Thomas Barton, PhD, has been elected a Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America, the highest honor for North America-based scholars in the field of medieval studies.

Barton joins the Academy’s Fellows Class of 2026, a distinction that recognizes major, long-term scholarly achievement. Election to the fellowship is a peer-bestowed honor, and only about 150 scholars in North America hold this title. Fellows also help sustain the field by lending expertise, participating in Academy initiatives and promoting the study of the Middle Ages.

“I’m deeply honored and honestly surprised,” Barton said. “Most Fellows are affiliated with major research institutions, so it’s exceedingly rare for someone from a teacher-scholar university like USD to be elected. I’m so grateful to the university, college and department for supporting me and my work over the years." Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Noelle Norton, PhD, praised Barton’s achievement, saying, “This is fantastic news, and a well-deserved accolade.”

The Medieval Academy of America, the largest organization in the United States promoting medieval studies, announced the election results earlier this month. Barton is among five new Fellows, alongside Calvin Bower (University of Notre Dame), Martha Driver (Pace University), D. Fairchild Ruggles (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Emily Steiner (University of Pennsylvania). The Academy also named five Corresponding Fellows from England and France. The induction ceremony for the new Fellows will take place March 21 during the Academy’s annual meeting at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

For more information about the Fellows program, visit the Medieval Academy’s website.