NOTE: This isn’t my complete, up-to-date cv, just the salient bits for public consumption. You can also find me on LinkedIn.

EDUCATION

Ph.D., American Studies Program, College of William and Mary
M.A., American Studies Program, College of William and Mary
B.A., Liberal Studies Program, University of Delaware

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

Senior Associate Vice Provost, Office of Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum, James Madison University, July 2021 to present.

Associate Vice Provost, Office of Vice Provost for University Programs, James Madison University, July 2013-2021

Associate Dean, Office of Dean of University Studies, James Madison University, July 2008 to July 2013

Cluster Two (Arts and Humanities) Coordinator, General Education Program, Office of Dean of General Education, James Madison University, July 2005 to July 2009

Director, Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Program, Marymount University, January to June 2005

TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

Professor & Associate Professor, Department of History (tenured), James Madison University, 2005 to present

Associate Professor, Department of History and Politics (tenured), Marymount University, 2002-2005

Assistant Professor, Department of History and Politics, Marymount University, 1997-2002

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of History, UNCW, 1996-1997

Instructor, American Studies Program, College of William and Mary, 1992

PUBLICATIONS (Selected)

Books

Race, Place, and Memory: Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2018.

Editor. Fleeing the Famine: North America and Irish Refugees, 1845-1851. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003.

Black Powder, White Lace: The du Pont Irish and Cultural Identity in 19th-Century America. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 2002. (2nd edition, University of Delaware Press, forthcoming 2022)

Co-author. Norvelt and Penncraft, Pennsylvania:  Subsistence Homestead Communities of the 1930s. Washington, D.C.:  HABS/HAER Division, NPS, 1991.

A Legacy of Coal:  The Coal Company Towns of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Washington, D.C.:  HABS/HAER Division, NPS, 1989.

Essays

“The Danger of a Single Motive: Evaluating Stories and Histories of 1898,” in The 1898 Wilmington Massacre: Critical Explorations on Insurrection, Black Resilience, and Black Futures, ed. by Lynn Mollenauer and Tiffany Gilbert (Louisiana State University Press, under contract for 2023).

“Resistance and Resilience: The Life and Legacy of Yuri Nemoto (’46),” Madison Magazine, (Fall 2022): 31-35.

“Company Towns” in The Encyclopedia of American Industrial History edited by Thomas Heinrich (New York: ME Sharpe, 2002).

“The Irish in Delaware” in The Encyclopedia of the Irish in America edited by Michael Glazier (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1999).

“A Legacy of Coal:  The Coal Company Towns of Southwestern Pennsylvania,” in Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, IV edited by Thomas Carter and Bernard L. Herman (Columbia:  University of Missouri Press, 1991).

Other

Consultant and historian, “A Sense of Place.” Permanent campus history exhibit, James Madison University, September 2019.

Guest editor, Journal of General Education, special double issue focused on civic engagement. Vol 68, No. 1-2 (2019).

     Editor. “The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington,” www.arlingtonblackheritage.org (2002-2005)

     Editor.  Wilmington’s African-American Heritage, brochure (Wilmington, NC: The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 1997).

PAPERS, PANELS, PRESENTATIONS (Selected)

“The Azalea Festival in History and Memory.” Invited lecture. Center for Southeastern North Carolina Archives, UNC Wilmington, October 27, 2022.

“Determining Readiness: Supporting Student Access, Equity, and Success,” Co-presenter. AAC&U Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment (GEPA), From Reflection to Imagination: Making Excellence the “New Normal.” San Diego, February 2022.

“Inclusion across our Campuses.” Co-presenter. AAC&U Annual Meeting, January 2022.

“Regulating History: Educators and Curators discuss the relevancy of the 1898 Wilmington Coup d’Etat to Our Present Moment.” Invited panelist. Historical Society of North Carolina Fall Meeting (virtual), Oct. 29, 2021.

“De-Commemorating on Campus.” Invited panelist. International Council of Fine Arts Deans annual conference, Richmond, VA, Oct. 7, 2021.

“Transfer for Equity: Making the Ideal Practical.” Co-presenter. AAC&U General Education and Assessment annual meeting, Jacksonville, Feb. 2020.

“History vs. Memory: Exploring the Hidden Past of Race and Gender at JMU.” Invited lecture, Rockingham Historical Society, Massanutten Regional Library, April 2018.

“Look Away, Shendo Land: Exploring Race, Place, and Memory at JMU.” Invited lecture, Special Collections, Carrier Library, JMU, March 2018.

“Checks and Balances: Structures that Impact Faculty Capacity to Lead Change in GenEd Programs.” Co-presented with Ed Klonoski, NIU and John Frederick, UNC-Charlotte. AAC&U General Education and Assessment, Philadelphia, Feb. 2018.

“Administrative Structures and Strategies That Help and/or Hinder General Education Administrators.” Co-presented with Larry Peterson, North Dakota State University, Tom Steen, University of North Dakota, Vicki Steiha, Boise State University, AAC&U conference, General Education and Assessment:  From My Work to Our Work, New Orleans, LA, Feb. 2016.

“Black Powder, White Lace: The Irish Community at Hagley,” March 2014. Invited lecture (video), Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE.

“Black & White & Bluestone: Racing History at the Normal, at Madison, and Beyond,” paper presented at the 2013 Virginia Universities and Race Histories Conference, Nov. 9, 2013, UVa, Charlottesville, VA.

“The Liberal Arts and Decision Making: Cultivating Ethical Reasoning and Exercising Judgment,” co-presenter with Fletcher Linder. October 2013. Fifth Biennial Conference of The American Conference of Academic Deans and The Phi Beta Kappa Society. Memphis, TN.

“Lead, Follow, AND Get Out of the Way: Strategies for General Education Program Administrators,” workshop sponsored by the American Council of Academic Deans, AAC&U meeting, Boston, MA, March 2012. Co-presented with Laura Behling, Butler University.

“Challenges in Administering General Education Programs,”  and “Voices from the Bridge,” both at  AGLS, Miami, Florida, October 2011.

“Sustaining a Mature Program: General Education at JMU.” Keynote address. Association of General and Liberal Studies, October 2009.

“Assessing Global Learning at JMU.” Invited speaker. AAC&U Global Learning Forum, March 2009.

 ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE (Selected and Recent)

My service reflects my commitment to fostering high quality liberal education programs, advancing the humanities, promoting civic engagement, and creating an inclusive, equitable environment on campus.

Online Intimidation and Attacks Response Task Force, chair (January-July 2022)

COVID-19 Academic Affairs Response Team (February-December 2020)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion director, University Programs (September 2020-July 2021)

COVID-19 Fall 2020 Contingency Planning Classroom Scheduling Working Group (April-Sept. 2020)

Executive Advisory Council, Women for Madison, University Advancement (2018-present)

Association of General and Liberal Studies, Past President (2016-present); President (2014-2016); President-elect (2012-2014); Executive Board (2010-2012)

Virginia Humanities Conference, Delegates Board, (2008-2013)

President’s Task Force on Inclusion (2017-2019)

COACHE Working Group, 2015-16; 2016-17; 2019-2020

Provost’s Diversity Council (2015-present)

Engaged University Council and Civic Engagement Steering Committee (co-chair, 2014-2018)

Compensation Task Force (2011-2012)

Madison Caucus for Gender Equality (chair, 2011-2014)

SACS/COC Quality Enhancement Plan Task Force (2011-2013)

JMU Annual Diversity Conference Planning Committee (co-chair, 2009-2011)

Carnegie Community Engagement Steering Committee (2010-2014)

Provost’s Award for Outreach and Engagement Committee (2010-2014)

Carnegie Foundation ‘Engaged Campus’ Classification Committee (2009-2010)

Civic Engagement Task Force (chair, 2008-2011)

Personnel Action Committee, History Department (2007-2015)

General Education Diversity Advisory Board (chair, 2008-2021)

Diversity Board Chairs Council (2008-2021)

Liberal Education Institute Planning Committee (2005-2008; chair, 2008-2013)

General Education Council (2005-present)

University Strategic Planning Committee (2003-2005), MU

University Benefits Committee (2003-2005), MU

General Education Review Committee (1997-2005; chair 2000-2002), MU

PUBLIC HISTORY EXPERIENCE (Selected)

JMU Campus History Committee, 2017-present

Executive Board, Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, 2001-2005

Exhibit Consultant, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Spring 2003

Public Historian in Residence, 1898 Centennial Foundation, 1996 to 1997

Research Assistant, Historical Research Division, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,1990 to 1992