Professor Theresa Coletti is an internationally respected interdisciplinary humanities researcher whose areas of expertise extend from the Middle Ages to contemporary criticism and theory. An author of two very well reviewed books, almost 40 articles and chapters, close to 30 reviews, and nearly 100 presentations (40 of which were invited), her scholarship is described in her dossier as "splendid," "truly profound," and possessing "unfailing erudition and interpretive brilliance." Speaking to Dr. Coletti's innovative scholarship, one of her letter-writers states that "it took our field a while to catch up with [her] insights." Another writer describes her as "one of the most creative, innovative, and original medievalists in North America," which is reflected among other things in her having been awarded the Martin Stevens Prize in 2002.

During Professor Coletti's career at the University, she has successfully taught a full range of courses from Freshman English Composition to graduate seminars --- an activity that continued even during the many years when she served as chair of the English department. Undergraduate students particularly emphasize her ability to make a difficult language and time period come alive in their imaginations, and provide excellent evaluations for her classes. Graduate students (from a pool of 60, 13 of whose doctoral theses she has advised) appreciate her academic, professional, and intellectual generosity as teacher and mentor. More generally Professor Coletti has been an extremely engaged and generous campus citizen, for example systematically engaging the Center for Teaching Excellence.