Stephanie Opfer, Ph.D.

Dr. Stephanie Opfer earned her Ph.D. in English Literature, with a specialization in Medieval Literature, from Northern Illinois University. Her dissertation was a linguistic analysis of the Old English elegies in order to find similar characteristics shared by the poems which would lead to a more specific genre definition. She earned her Master of Arts in English at the University of Toledo and her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science, from Ohio Northern University. She also completed the teacher certification program for Integrated Language Arts at Bowling Green State University.

Prior to Tiffin University, Dr. Opfer has taught grammar, composition, and literature at the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, Northern Illinois University, Kishwaukee College, and Rock Valley College. She has also been a fellow at the National Endowment for the Humanities “Teaching Beowulf in the Context of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature” Summer Institute at Western Michigan University. In addition to composition and general literature courses, her specific teaching and research interests include Old and Middle English language, Anglo-Saxon literature (Beowulf in particular), linguistics, mythology, Chaucer, and pedagogical techniques for teaching medieval literature.

Outside of Tiffin University, Dr. Opfer occasionally participates in summer “Shakespeare in the park” productions in Fremont, Ohio, and she enjoys playing the flute in various community groups.