Professor, Researcher, Book Historian
Dr. Martha W. Driver
Martha W. Driver is Distinguished Professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pace University in New York City. A co-founder of the Early Book Society for the study of manuscripts and printing history, she writes about book production, illustration from manuscript to print, and the early history of publishing. In addition to publishing 40 articles in these areas, she has edited twelve journals in nine years. These include: Film & History: Medieval Period in Film 29, 1-4 (1999); a special issue of Literary & Linguistic Computing, “Teaching the Middle Ages with Technology” 14, 2 (June 1999); and the Journal of the Early Book Society. Her books about pictures (from woodcuts to film) include The Image in Print: Book Illustration in Late Medieval England (London and Toronto: British Library Publications and University of Toronto, 2004) and The Medieval Hero on Screen: Representations from Beowulf to Buffy, edited with Sid Ray (Jefferson, N.C., and London: McFarland, 2004). Forthcoming books include Fascicle Four in the Images in English Manuscripts project, with Michael Orr (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers, 2007), Medieval Shakespeare in Performance (McFarland) with Sid Ray, and Midwives to Warriors: Women and Work in the Middle Ages in the Praeger Series on the Middle Ages.
Professional Experience
Member, The Grolier Club (2019-)
Trustee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2007-2021)
Search Committee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2017-2021)
Executive Committee, American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (2014-2021)
Chair, Early Book Society (1988-2021)
Schallek Award Committee, Medieval Academy of America (2004-2007)
Member, Program Committee, Medieval Academy of America (2000-2002)
Conference Co-ordinator, Medieval Club of NY (1989-1994)
President, Medieval Club of New York (1987-1989)
Reader-Consultant, Fellowships, AAUW Educational Foundation (1987, 1988)
Guest Curator, "The Pictures of Wynkyn de Worde," exhibition at the
John Hay Library, Brown University (1986)
Consultant, "Censorship: 500 Years of Conflict," exhibition at
the New York Public Library (1984)
Guest Curator, "Martin Luther and the Popular Imagination," exhibition at
the New York Public Library (1983)
Reviewer, editor, and researcher, Publishers Weekly (1982-1984)
Employment
Distinguished Professor of English, Pace University (2003- )
Professor, Pace University (1995-2003)
Associate Professor, Pace University (1988-1995)
Assistant Professor, Pace University (1981-1988)
Lecturer in English, Vassar College (1980-1981)
Lecturer in English, University of Pennsylvania (1977-1979)
Teaching Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (1975-77)
Education
Vassar College, A.B. (1974), Phi Beta Kappa
University of Pennsylvania, M.A. (1975), Ph.D. (1980)
Dissertation: "The Early Editions of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde"
Honors & Awards
Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence (2020)
Dyson Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award (2016)
Dyson Distinguished Achievement Award (2003)
NYSERNET Sponsored Education grant (2002)
National Science Foundation grant (2001-2003)
Rodney G. Dennis Fellow in the Study of Manuscripts, Houghton Library,
Harvard University (1996-1997)
NEH Research Tools Grant (1995)
American Council of Learned Societies Travel Grant (1995)
Seminar Participant, Folger Institute, Folger Shakespeare Library (1994)
Fellow, Society of Fellows of the Dyson College (1994, 1995)
American Philosophical Society Grant (1990)
NEH Fellowship for College Teachers (1988-89)
Bibliographical Society of America Fellowship (1987)
Scholarly Research Grant, Pace University (1990-2000)
Summer Research Grant, Pace University (1986-2001)
NEH Travel to Collections grant (1986, 1987, 1990)
NEH Summer Seminar, Columbia University (1982)
Lectureship in English, University of Pennsylvania (1977-1979)
Teaching Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania (1975-1977)
at Pace University
Member, English Dept, Appeals (2020-2023)
Member, English Dept, Elections (2016—2020)
Faculty Representative to the Trustees, Development Committee (2005-2017)
Co-chair, Dyson Humanities and Social Sciences Seminar (2014-2016)
Member, Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee (2014-2016)
Member, NYFC, Faculty Affairs Committee (2013-2016)
Member, Elections Committee, English Department (2017-2019)
Advisor, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2015-2017)
Member, Personnel Committee, English Department (1997-2000, 2007-2009, 2011-2013)
Member, Elections Committee, English Department (2011-2014, 2016-2018)
Member, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2007-2009, 2013-2014)
Member, Appeals Committee, English Department (2002-2005, 2006-2008)
Chair, Ad Hoc Committee, Dyson Faculty Assembly (2005-2006)
Member, Writing Contest Executive Committee, English Department (2005-2006)
Member, Curriculum Committee, WGS (1996-2000, 2004-present)
Member, Fundraising, WGS (2004-2006)
Member, Curriculum Committee, English Department (2004-2006)
Judge, English Department Writing Contest (2004-2006)
Member, Dean Search Committee (2003-2004)
Member, Advisory Board, Honors College (2003-2007)
Chair, Personnel Committee, English Department (2002-2004)
Member, Dyson International Committee (2002-2004)
Presidential Alumni Commission 2001 (spring 2001)
Director, The Honors Program (1998-2000)
Chair, Feminist Research Group (1996-1997)
Member, Feminist Research Group (1995-1998)
Co-Chair, Technology Committee (1996-97)
Member, Theater Advisory Committee (1996-2001)
Member, Academic Resources Committee (1996-1998)
Chair, Scholarly Research and Kenan Committees (1993-1995)
Member, Scholarly Research and Kenan Committees (1991-1993)
Member, Committee on Scholarship (1993-1997)
Member, Women's Studies Lecture Index (1994-1995)
Secretary, Faculty Council (1984-1987)
Member, Cultural Affairs Committee (1983-1991)
Tom and I met on a dance floor in 1999 and still enjoy learning new steps. Our current love is New York style salsa. Anyone who can walk can dance, and we are the living proof of that!
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”
― Martha Graham