Dr. Audrey Thorstad joined HMML team in 2024 as a Programming Associate. She completed her BA at the College of Saint Scholastica in 2010. She received her MA in 2011, and her PhD in History in 2015, both from the University of Leeds, England.

In her role at HMML, Thorstad supports the Director of Programming in the development and execution of scholarly and public programs. She assists visiting scholar services, including the Heckman Stipend and Fellowship programs, as well as the language Summer School hosted at HMML each year. Thorstad collaborates closely with students and faculty at CSB+SJU, including student interns who gain valuable experience while working at HMML.

Prior to arriving at HMML, Thorstad worked at the University of North Texas as an assistant professor in early modern history, receiving tenure in 2023. Before that, she was a lecturer in medieval and early modern history at Bangor University in Wales from 2016 until 2020. Her book, The Culture of Castles in Tudor England and Wales, was published in 2019 with Boydell Press. She has published articles on early modern heraldry, hospitality, tournaments and jousting, and domestic households. In addition, she has taught extensively on medieval and early modern Europe, particularly social and cultural history.

What she enjoys most about her work: “The best part of this job is getting people excited about the past and its relationship with our present. The collections at HMML allow us to explore a whole new world, one which speaks to us today if we are willing to listen.”