UNM Professor Jonathan Davis-Secord Receives MLA’s William Riley Parker Prize

Jonathan Davis-Secord, associate professor of medieval studies at The University of New Mexico, has received the William Riley Parker Prize from the Modern Language Association of America for an outstanding scholarly article published in PMLA, the association's flagship journal.

The MLA announced the honor recently, recognizing Davis-Secord's article, "Trans Saints in Old English," which appeared in the March 2025 issue of PMLA. The prize is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished article published in the journal.

"It was overwhelming to learn that my article received the William Riley Parker Prize," Davis-Secord said. "The article's argument is very important to me, and it is very meaningful to have its value recognized by the prize committee."

The selection committee cited the article's originality and scholarly rigor. In "Trans Saints in Old English," Davis-Secord examines medieval hagiography through a new interpretive lens, offering insight into how gender identity and sanctity were understood in early English religious texts. The work contributes to ongoing conversations in medieval studies, literary scholarship and the history of gender and sexuality.

"My work helps demonstrate the legitimacy of thinking about trans lives in the premodern past," Davis-Secord said. "It contributes more evidence that trans people have long existed well before people began using the word 'trans,' and shows that people in early medieval England were open to these possibilities."

Samuel Diener, a stipendiary lecturer in English at the University of Oxford's Exeter College, received an honorable mention for his article, "Narration in the Key of We: The Voyage and the Grammar of Identity," published in the January 2025 issue of PMLA.

A leading journal in literary scholarship

Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association is one of the largest scholarly organizations in the humanities. PMLA is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious journals in literary and language studies, publishing peer-reviewed research across periods, languages and methodologies.

The William Riley Parker Prize, now in its 62nd year, honors articles that demonstrate exceptional scholarship and make a significant contribution to the field.

"Publication in PMLA is a recognition of the quality and importance of my work," Davis-Secord said. "Given the importance of the article's topic, I am very glad for it to find as many readers as possible."

Advancing medieval studies at UNM

Davis-Secord's research focuses on medieval literature, religious culture and the history of gender and sexuality. At UNM, he teaches courses in medieval studies and literary history, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in close textual analysis and interdisciplinary research.

"I build my courses around questions that resonate with both the medieval and the modern," Davis-Secord said. "Students care deeply about exploring the relevance of medieval materials to our present-day concerns, and they see the value of that work."

The award adds to UNM's growing national profile for humanities scholarship and highlights the university's contributions to research in the liberal arts.

For more information on the award visit mla.org