Professor of Art and Director of American Studies on the Sarah Gibson Blanding Chair
BA, Dartmouth College; PhD, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
American Studies offers students an opportunity to engage the society, culture, institutions, and mores of the United States from a variety of perspectives and through the methodologies of different intellectual disciplines. Because of the social diversity of Americans, the study of American culture necessarily involves consideration of many cultures and must ask how this diversity coexists with a national identity; therefore, all courses incorporate multiple examinations of race, ethnicity, class and gender in America. Study of the subject matter is multidisciplinary and most courses are team-taught. Majors create their own courses of study and undertake a year-long thesis or project during the senior year.