Welcoming two new lecturers to the School’s community

The School of Welsh has welcomed two new academic staff to its community.

Dr David Callander, a graduate of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and Dr Elen Ifan, an alumna of Bangor University, joined the School in September 2019. They bring with them a wealth of academic and professional experience, including periods of international study and teaching in Germany and the United States.

Dr Callander is a medieval literary scholar across both Welsh and English literature. His research interests also include Medieval Arthurian literature, Medieval Latin texts from Wales (especially saints’ lives) and the post-medieval reception of medieval literature.

He said: “It’s an honour to join such a friendly and welcoming School. I started as a lecturer at the end of September and everyone has made me feel at home. As a researcher focused on Medieval literature, I’m proud to become part of a School, and University, that is leading the way in the field of medieval studies and with scholars such as Professor Sioned Davies and Dr Dylan Foster Evans who are also exploring this rich period of history.”

Dr Elen Ifan earned her undergraduate degree from Bangor University before completing her PhD in 2017. Her thesis explored the relationship between the work of noted 20^th century poet T. Gwynn Jones and music. The relationship between literature and music and literary and music-linked translation are two key areas of interest for Dr Ifan.

Dr Ifan said: “I’m excited to join the School of Welsh and have been refamiliarizing myself with the world of academia after a period working for BBC radio. My research focuses on different aspects of the relationship between literature and music including translations of song lyrics and how studying the musical arrangement of different materials enriches our understanding and reading of them.”