Adrienne Johnson
Class of 2008

Adrienne Johnson has always been fascinated with the medieval era, borne of her familial connection to Cornwall, England, from which King Arthur is rumored to have hailed.

"I had a crazy British grandma when I was little, and you can't help but be interested in dragons when she tells you they live behind the woodpile," Johnson, a native of Tacoma, Wash., said.

This interest has persisted, and the Medieval Studies Program is part of the reason Johnson chose Brandeis.

"I like medieval history because the medieval period contains the roots of modern society. Many of our [Western] social institutions stem from attitudes and practices that arose between the Dark Ages and the Renaissance," she said. "By studying the Middle Ages, you can actually achieve a more complete insight on modern society and even help alleviate some of its inequities."

In that vein, Johnson set out on a quest to save the lingcod population of Puget Sound. "Everyone knows and worries about pandas and whales," she noted, "but there are thousands of endangered [species] that no one's jumping to raise money for because [their] faces don't make for cute merchandise."

When not involved in biology and medieval history, Johnson enjoys making art, playing oboe and dabbling in the theater. She's eager to unite all her interests in four busy years at Brandeis.

"I love Brandeis, and I feel right at home," she said.

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