As the academic year comes to a close, the History and Philosophy Programs at the Bass School are proud to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of its faculty. This year has been marked by milestones in teaching, research, and professional service, demonstrating the continued excellence and dedication of the program’s scholars.
This year was especially notable for faculty promotions. Kate Davies, Anne Gray Fischer and En Li were each promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, while Program Head Eric Schlereth was promoted to full Professor. These achievements reflect the strength and impact of their contributions to the university and the broader academic community.
Faculty members produced an impressive range of scholarly publications.
Andy Amato released his second book, The Tragic Imagination in Shakespeare and Emerson (Bloomsbury), and published the article “Reimagining Plausibility: In Defense of Marcuse’s Philosophy of Science and Technology” in Radical Philosophy Review.
Charles Bambach’s latest book, Heidegger on Poetic Thinking, was published by Cambridge University Press. He also contributed book chapters to two edited volumes—Martin Heidegger: Holzwege and Heidegger and Classical Thought—and published a journal article titled “Of an Alien Homecoming: A Response” in Gatherings: The Heidegger Circle Annual.
Kate Davies published her first book, Heidegger’s Conversations: Toward a Poetic Pedagogy (SUNY Press), marking a major milestone in her academic career.
Kimberly Hill contributed two chapters to edited volumes on religion and African Christianity: “What connections were there between imperialism and missionary activity?,” in Understanding and Teaching Religion in American History, and “New World Ethiopianism and the Evangelization of Africa,” in The Palgrave Handbook on African Christianity from Apostolic Times to the Present.
David Patterson published an “Afterword” to Bea Lurie and Steven Leonard Jacobs’ Life Must Go On, a book review in the Journal of Church and State, and additional critical commentary.
Whitney Stewart contributed pieces in Smithsonian Magazine and Time. Her book chapter, “Digital Public History at Three Presidential Home Sites,” appeared in American Revolutions in the Digital Age (Cornell University Press). Her first book, This is Our Home, received multiple accolades, including the James Broussard Best First Book Prize, recognition as a Choice Outstanding Title by the Association of College and Research Libraries, and Honorable Mention for the Willie Lee Rose Prize.
Ben Wright co-edited American Revolutions in the Digital Age alongside two colleagues.
Despite a competitive funding landscape, faculty secured substantial research support.
En Li participated in the inaugural Provost’s Teaching Fellows cohort, producing a podcast on tenure and faculty development in the humanities.
Whitney Stewart received both the Anne Firor Scott Mid-Career Fellowship and a Swan Foundation Fellowship from the American Philosophical Society.
Ben Wright received a $35,000 grant from the Summerlee Foundation for Texas History to help produce an open-access Texas History textbook. In addition, Ben also won a $100,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to help produce The Palace of Thundering Gods: An Open History of Religion in the United States.
Three faculty, nationally known in their fields, were invited to join editorial/advisory/ambassador boards. Congratulations to David Patterson (𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 and a member of the Scholars Academic Advisory Board for the Weitzman National Museum of Jewish American History in Philadelphia); Whitney Stewart (𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑊𝑎𝑟 𝐸𝑟𝑎 and 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦); and Ben Wright (Library Company of Philadelphia).
Faculty also assumed leadership roles in national scholarly communities.
David Patterson joined the editorial board of the International Journal of Alterity and the Scholars Academic Advisory Board for the Weitzman National Museum of Jewish American History.
Whitney Stewart joined the editorial boards of Journal of the Civil War Era and Journal of Texas History.
Ben Wright joined the ambassadors board for the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Andy Amato organized the 54th Annual Conference of the North Texas Philosophical Association, drawing prominent scholars to UT Dallas.
Beyond these highlights, faculty engaged in a wide array of professional service, including invited lectures, organizational leadership, and grant proposal reviews for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Congratulations to all faculty on a successful and inspiring academic year. The History and Philosophy Program continues to thrive thanks to the energy, scholarship, and service of its members.