Jennifer Paxton

Jennifer Paxton is an American medieval historian and academic administrator. She holds the position of Associate Professor of History and serves as Director of the University Honors Program at The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. Her scholarship focuses on medieval England, especially on monastic writing, memory, identity and community in the twelfth century.

Early life and education Paxton is one of the two daughters of American folk singer-songwriter Tom Paxton (born October 31, 1937) and his wife Midge Paxton (1945-2014). She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University in May 1987, graduating summa cum laude with Distinction in History. She then proceeded to Harvard University, where she completed an A.M. in History in June 1990 and a Ph.D. in History in June 1999.

Research interests and contributions Paxton’s primary research explores how monastic communities in twelfth-century England used historical texts—especially chronicles and charters—to assert identity, status, rights, and memory in the period following the Norman Conquest (1066) and the civil war during the reign of King Stephen (1135–1153).

Personal and public engagement Paxton is active in mentoring undergraduate research and promoting liberal-arts education at CUA. She has participated in university interviews about the role of the humanities.