Renberg’s Innovative Approach to Learning History Inspires
Written by Ed Welch
History isn’t just about the past. It continues to speak to us. Dr. Lynneth Renberg, assistant professor of history in the Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences, shows students how to connect with history in engaging, thought-provoking ways.
“History isn’t just about the past. It continues to speak to us. Dr. Lynneth Renberg, assistant professor of history in the Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences, shows students how to connect with history in engaging, thought-provoking ways.
“I think history has a lot in common with mysteries and with detective stories. You’ve got these fragments, these pieces of knowledge, and you have a kind of puzzle, so as much as possible I try to create spaces for students to do that themselves in my classroom,” she said. “I lecture for as much of my classes as I need to to give the context, to allow students to then do that detective work, because I think that’s what makes history exciting. It allows for that exploration and for that kind of personalization of questions in a way that can be really fulfilling even if you don’t think you’re interested in history.”
Dr. Renberg has always loved history, but was unsure of how exactly to incorporate that interest into a career.
“It wasn’t the first thing I went to to think about as a career, but once I started putting these pieces together of all the different things I loved, it became pretty clear teaching history was a good fit for me and my interests,” she said.
Her primary areas of research have focused on Europe in the Middle Ages and the early modern era. She spent a year in Scotland at the University of St. Andrews studying modern European history—specifically 19th-century life, ranging from the Victorian monarchy to Gilbert and Sullivan operettas—before completing her Ph.D. in medieval history. She has also published and contributed to scholarly articles about medieval history.
‘I think history has a lot in common with mysteries and with detective stories. You’ve got these fragments, these pieces of knowledge, and you have a kind of puzzle, so as much as possible I try to create spaces for students to do that themselves in my classroom.
– Dr. Lynneth Renberg
Assistant Professor of History
Beyond Anderson University, Dr. Renberg has teamed up with colleagues on an international scale. Last spring, she attended a collaborative conference symposium with academics, artists and activists in Oslo, Norway. They were working together to consider medieval understandings of religion, race, identity and belonging through the writings of 12th Century cleric Gerald of Wales. Participants included scholars and artists from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Germany, the UK, Australia and Canada.
“It’s been a really great opportunity to get to be involved. I think the most rewarding part so far has been the chance to get to know and collaborate with such a diverse international group. Hearing their perspectives has been incredibly enriching,” she said.
