Associate Professor at Grinnell College
I am fascinated by what it has meant to be “American.” In my scholarship, I explore how people on the margins have struggled to write their way into narratives of American history. As someone who has struggled to convince myself that I belong in the category of “American,” I have been and continue to be interested in identity. In particular, I am fascinated by a question that has been asked by historians and non-historians alike since the birth of the country: what does it mean to be American? While the meaning of being American has always been contested, throughout the history of this country powerful factions have operated as if its meaning is natural, immutable, and universally agreed upon. In my research and teaching, I explore the contests between those wishing to promote the view of a permanent notion of being American and those who have recognized the contingent nature of American identity. I am currently working on book that examines the origins of a Native American identity that transcends specific Indigenous nations. I am developing a course that explores the history of cultural and political polarization in the United States. In partnership with the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, students will explore the history of polarization by examining the history of “town-gown” relations in Grinnell, Iowa. Grinnell College is a very liberal college located in a town that voted for Trump in the last two elections.