We are delighted that Britta Simon (PhD 1998) has joined the Department as Affiliate Assistant Professor this year.
Britta holds a master’s degree in Medieval Latin and Medieval German from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany, and a PhD from University of Washington where she wrote her dissertation on the significance of non-verbal communication in “Nibelungenlied.” Her doctoral advisor was C. Stephen Jaeger. After a brief teaching stint at University of Iowa, she worked at Microsoft Corporation in positions related to localization, natural language processing, and training. In 2010, she returned to University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education where she manages Summer Quarter.
Britta's interest in the Middle-Ages is broad. Topics of interest include courtly literature and culture, medieval scientific compendia, bestiaries, legends, and medieval music.
For the past years, she has been hosting “Early Music Northwest,” an educational radio show at KBCS 91.3 fm featuring topics in medieval history, literature, and philosophy as they relate to medieval music. Past broadcasts included topics such as “Andreas Capellanus’ Art of Courtly Love,” “Legends and Music of Saint Nicholas,” “Guillaume de Machaut,” “The Medieval Motet,” “The Holy Grail,” and “Early Polyphonic Masses.”