An honors student has booked her spring semester with an adventure into theological texts, maps, letters, travel narratives, reference works, literature and more.

Kailee Rowe, a sophomore honors history and classical studies major, was accepted into The Newberry Library’s undergraduate seminar “The World in Books: 1100-1800.” The distinguished 10-week course uses the multidisciplinary field of history of the book to explore how medieval and early modern people used different media. 

“I find the written word the most beautiful thing about history,” Rowe shared. “It’s like getting a glimpse into a world I never got to experience firsthand. I’m hearing the voices of people before me, and that’s a really important aspect of history.” 

Rowe applied to the program to explore more literature and theological texts. After studying abroad in England last summer, she was inspired to gain a greater understanding of the consciousness of medieval Europe. 

“I encouraged Kailee to apply because she was already interested in the material, thanks largely to her participation in professor William Quinn's Medieval England study abroad program,” said Mary Beth Long, assistant professor of English. “I knew the Newberry would offer a challenging and energizing class that would be a good match for Kailee's abilities and interest.”

Lucky for Rowe, the U of A became a member of The Newberry Library’s Center for Renaissance Studies Consortium in 2021, giving students and faculty the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a highly specialized community of scholars. 

“Our membership was due to the vision, networking and logistics-managing of Italian professor Daniela D'Eugenio,” Long said. 

D’Eugenio collaborated with colleges and offices across campus to sponsor the membership, including the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program, the Graduate School and International Education, and the Honors College. 

Because of this opportunity, students can open a page to the past to illuminate how premodern people used religion, science, art and technology to grapple with new economic, intellectual and cultural challenges in a rapidly expanding global community.

The seminar features lectures, discussions and interactive workshops all offered online, and it is free for students to attend. It is led by Lia Markey, Rebecca L. Fall and Christopher Fletcher from The Newberry Library, but will include scholars from Arizona State University, the University of Chicago, the University of Minnesota, Indiana University, the University of Nebraska and the University of Virginia.  

As an honors student, Rowe is also using the opportunity to jumpstart her thesis research — something she’s been excited about since starting at the U of A. 

“Honors was never a question for me,” Rowe said. “The academic atmosphere is where I’ve always been the most comfortable. I love the challenge that honors provides.” 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.