Will Beattie

What is your hometown?

Farnham, United Kingdom

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Notre Dame?

Before coming to Notre Dame, I worked for an educational charity in Hong Kong. We recruited and placed native-speaking English teachers in local schools in order for students to develop their English speaking skills and develop confidence interacting with people from different places and backgrounds. I worked closely with schools in socially and economically disadvantaged areas of the region.

What obstacles did you overcome to attend Notre Dame?

Moving to Notre Dame involved travelling halfway across the globe, so I had to organise most of the move remotely. I also navigated the visa experience as a UK national in Hong Kong applying for a US visa. I have plenty of experience with the challenges of being an international student in the US.

What do you research?

I'm researching religious writing in early medieval England (c.800-1200), particularly how writers used the Apocalypse in their work and how the genre of 'apocalyptic literature' developed over the period.

Do you live on campus or off?

off campus

What do you like to do in your spare time for fun? What hobbies do you enjoy?

I enjoy weight lifting, running, playing bass guitar, cooking, and role-playing games.

How do you unwind after a long day of work?/How do you practice self-care?

I exercise in the Duncan and Rockne gyms several times a week. In the evenings I play bass or watch UK panel shows with my partner and our dog.

After you graduate, what would you like to do?

I'm interested in teaching at the university level in Europe, or working in public-facing educational organisations like museums.

Why did you choose Notre Dame?

During my undergraduate and graduate degrees in the UK, I kept coming across books on the medieval world published by the University of Notre Dame Press. I did some research and learned about the Medieval Institute here and its prestigious Medieval Studies programme. I wanted to be part of an institution that is actively engaged in promoting new research and scholars.