Norse by God is where two worlds meet: the misty fjords of Medieval Scandinavia and the ancient hills of Appalachia. We unearth the surprising echoes and shared threads that connect these two cultures across time.
As a team of historians and students from Marshall University’s History Department, we are dedicated to exploring the Viking Age and the wider Middle Ages. Through digital storytelling, our adventures in artifact recreation, and scholarly research, we bring history out of the classroom and into the community.
This project is made possible by the generous support of the Hedrick Foundation.
Meet Our Scholars
Dr. Laura Michele Diener
Project Director
I am lucky enough to lead this fantastic band of students as we embark on our research and recreation adventures. It has been a long and lively road getting here—I received my PhD from the Ohio State University in 2008 and have studied at Vassar College, Newnham College, Cambridge, and Vermont College of Fine Arts. I have been at Marshall University since 2008, teaching classes on fascinating peoples of the past, including Vikings, Romans, Ancient Egyptians, and Celts, as well as Queens and Princesses and Fashion and Textile History. I’ve written about medieval spirituality, medieval embroidery, and medieval hair. My current project is a biography of the Norwegian Nobel-prize-winning writer, Sigrid Undset, titled A World Perilous and Beautiful, and forthcoming with University of Minnesota Press.
Arianna Baggett
Intern/Researcher
Hello! My name is Arianna, and I am currently a graduate assistant for the Herd Humanities program for the English department. I received my bachelor’s degree at Marshall, majoring in History with minors in Latin and International affairs. I love reading, whether it be dark fantasy or historical fiction, and hope to work in the publishing industry one day and even write my own stories.
Noah Brendamour
Intern/Researcher
Hello, my name is Noah. I’m a senior undergraduate of History at Marshall University. I am also studying for an anthropology minor. I was originally a Mechanical Engineering student but switched to History when I found I enjoyed the learning of history far more than I ever did engineering. My interest in history lies mostly in pre contact Central America and the Mesopotamian Middle East. I feel in love with the history of indigenous Central America when I got to see many of its historical sites as a child and I’ve been interested ever since. I intend to go for my masters and hope to one day teach as a professor of history.
Dane Childers
Intern/Researcher
Hello! My name is Dane. I graduated from Marshall University with a bachelor’s in history in 2025, and am currently working towards getting my master’s. I focus primarily on Early Medieval and Viking Age history in insular Europe, alongside the textiles of those eras. The ships and mead are a bonus, I’m really here for the headwear. My interest in history combined with my skill in various textile arts- from sewing to making monsters and costumes for haunted attractions- led to my love of recreating historical textiles. I aim to recreate these textiles as accurately as possible, including the methods and materials used (save shaving a sheep myself). Notable examples include a recreation of the Herjolfsnes hood, a child’s silk taffeta bodice from the 1860’s, and Queen Emma’s veil and tablet woven headband. I maintain that there’s a lot to be learned from historical textile recreation, far beyond just learning you have a mild wool allergy 3 months into a grant project.
Isabella Cortellesi
Intern/Researcher
Hello there! My name is Isabella Cortellesi. I’m a graduate of Marshall university (Go Herd!!) who got a history degree in 2025. I started my college journey in the year 2020 (I know COVID… yeah it was an interesting time) but started off in elementary education. Though after being in the program, I felt that it wasn’t the right fit for me. Coming from a family who loved learning about any and every era of history, I was bound to study the field. So, drawing upon that background I decided to switch over to history (which was the best decision that I made in my college career)! And in the history department I found my love for history, specifically medieval European history. Not only did I find a love of history, but I also found a loving community who is passionate about their studies.
Charley Damron Intern/Researcher
Hi there! My name is Charley Damron, and I’m a sophomore at Marshall University. While originally a business major, I decided to switch to something that I might as well enjoy—history. My historical interests were sparked by listening to my great-grandparents’ stories of coming of age during the Great Depression and World War Two, and the lives they subsequently lived, which gave me an appreciation for how history has shaped the world we now live in. While my preferred area of history is more contemporary, I have found myself becoming increasingly interested in medieval and ancient history as my coursework has progressed. While not in class and studying, I enjoy cooking, gardening, watching documentaries, and spending time with my girlfriend. I’m excited for the opportunity to participate in this project in a meaningful way and better grasp the lived realities of the past. Following graduation, I hope to attend law school and become an attorney.
Chloie Jackson
Intern/Researcher
Hi! My name is Chloie. I just recently got my bachelor’s from Marshall University in history with two minors in French and Geography, because why not? I love going to museums and understanding different aspects of art, along with the history behind it. Some of my main interests are in East Asian history with an emphasis on cultural history and museum studies. I’m planning on getting my master’s in history, then hoping to continue my education to one day work in a museum or become a professor myself to teach others what I love to learn.
Matthew King
Intern/Researcher
Matthew graduated from Marshall with a History Degree in 2025. Although he is now going to law school, he was a founding member of Norse by God. He worked on the famous Viking Ship for untold hours and began the Harald Hardrada profile. Anglo-Saxon England, especially Alfred the Great and Athelstan, will always be dear to his heart.
Levi Kouns Intern/Researcher
I am Levi Kouns, a Marshall Graduate student pursuing my Masters in History. I received my Bachelors Degree from Wilmington College where I majored in history with a minor in political science. My area of focus is Medieval History with a particular interest in cultural and national identity, characteristics that are key to the understanding of any society from the past. I have found myself infatuated with the British Isles and the peoples that already and would come to inhabit it following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, such as the Britons, Anglo-Saxons, Norse, and eventually the Normans. Half a continent away, I also find interest in the Eastern Roman Empire and how its predominantly Greek population continued to consider themselves Roman until their own fall many centuries later. My goal is to press on to a PhD where I will eventually become a professor of Medieval History and continue to both teach others and enrich myself with the stories of those who came before us.
Adrienne Layman Graduate Assistant/Researcher
Hi! I’m Adrienne Layman — history nerd, museum director, and forever curious traveler. I’m currently pursuing my master’s in history while directing the Ramsdell Civil War House Museum and serving as an intern to the Hedrick Chair. I also get to do what I love as an Outreach Specialist with the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, helping preserve and share the stories of the Underground Railroad. When I’m not buried in archives or giving tours, you’ll probably find me exploring historic sites, planning my next Disney trip (yes, I’m proudly a Disney Adult), or curled up with a good book. Welcome to my corner of the internet — where history and adventure go hand in hand!
Tyler Leonard
Intern/Researcher
Hi everybody! My name is Tyler and I am a graduate student at Marshall. I’m beyond excited to be working on this project this year. My focus is on public history, particularly infrastructure, so I am a little out of my wheelhouse. However, that’s the beautiful thing about History, we can always learn more from the past and I enjoy learning about all different periods and topics. A fun fact about me is that I collect bucket hats! Once again, I am very excited about this experience and the opportunities that come with it.
Nico Pace
Intern/Researcher
My name is Nico Pace and I am a senior at Marshall University. I am double majoring in Anthropology and History with a double minor in Spanish and geology. My main areas of interest are anything archaeology especially prehistory and super early history. I particularly love North and South America, as well as Egypt and the Near East. I am planning to get a masters degree in applied archaeology after I graduate and work in the CRM field to help protect America’s archaeological resources and history.
Andie Valles
Intern/Researcher
Andie Valles is a 2025 Marshall Graduate who earned her bachelor’s in history and Humanities with an emphasis in Classics. Andie aims to return to Marshall in the spring to pursue her master’s degree in history with the ultimate goal of entering the field of museum work. Andie’s special interests pertain to both medieval and ancient history with specific emphasis on epic poetry and language such as Ancient Greek and Greek culture as well as medieval queens and the practice and institution of queenship, and finally the changes of culture and religion in Medieval Britain.
Bri Williams
Intern/Researcher
Brianne “Bri” Williams. I am a proud Marshall University alum with a BA in History (because understanding the past is the best way to challenge the future). I double-minored in American and European history, because why settle for one continent when you can conquer two? I am now knee-deep in a Master’s in Teaching – I am honing my skills to historically enlighten, inspire, and empower the minds of future generations. And because one master’s degree simply won’t suffice, I’ll soon embark on another—this time in History. I firmly believe that Harris Hall is the undisputed best building on campus (and I am prepared to engage in a debate over it). My love for history is boundless—whether it’s the intrigues of the antiquity, the power plays of medieval queenship, the revolutionary spirit of colonial America, or the relentless pursuit of justice in civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. I am drawn to rebellion—the kind that shakes systems and advances humanity. As my man, Benny Franklin once said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” I hope to fully embrace both!
Kathyrn Thompson
Resident Artist
Kathryn Thompson is a West Virginia native. She graduated from Marshall University in 2017 with degrees in English and History, and received her Master’s in 2020. She currently teaches K3-12 Art while also running a small business selling her artwork on the side. Kathryn is excited to contribute art to Norse By God, and hopes her illustrations help you visualize the lives of the Vikings that this project explores. You can find more of her artwork at Kathryn Thompson Art on Facebook, or walkingonthestars on Instagram.