HST 102: The United States Since 1865

Who Are We?

I'm Margaret Thompson, the professor for this course. I've been teaching at Syracuse for a long time; I guess I must like it!  My main areas of interest as a historian are U.S. politics (I'm also a member of the Political Science Dept.), religion, and women; right now, I'm finishing a book on the history of Catholic nuns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  [If you want to know more about this interest of mine, check out  SisterSite , another website of mine.]  Among the other courses I teach at SU are  The Modern Presidency and  U.S. Women's History ; I've also been part of MAX123, and offer a number of more specialized seminars. Before coming to Syracuse, I taught at Knox College in Illinois, and worked as a legislative aide in Washington.
    When I'm not teaching or doing research, I like to spend time with friends, read mystery novels, cook, surf the 'net, see movies, and follow SU sports. If you share any of these interests, come by my office hours so we can chat about them!

I'm Gilda Bonanno, a third-year doctoral student at Syracuse University. My major field is American History from 1870 to the present and I will write a dissertation having to do with race, ethnicity and religion in 20th-century America. I hope to complete my degree "early in the next century" and then apply for a tenure-track position as a professor at a college or university. I have a master's degree in American history from Fordham University and, prior to attending S.U., worked both as an adjunct instructor of history and as an archives specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. In what little "spare" time I have, I enjoy singing with the Syracuse University Women's Choir and making (and eating!) dessert.

My name is Jim Eichsteadt, and I'm also a doctoral student.
I grew up in Irvine, CA, and later graduated with a B.A. in history
from UC Davis in 1995. My research focuses on student protests
against the Vietnam War. Most people are surprised to learn that
Syracuse University, which is not exactly a hotbed of political
activism today, was the site of several anti-war protests, and was
basically shut-down during the spring of 1970 due to student agitation.
When I'm not reading piles of history books, I enjoy playing sports
and watching movies starring film's greatest thespian, Leslie Nielson.
I also have an interest in cheesy 1970's television crime dramas.
I live in Syracuse year-round, so I have to make do with weekly e-mail
updates from my parents about our eighteen-pound pet cat, appropriately
named "Moose."

Hello, my name is Matt Harris and I hail from Maine, the same state that claims George Bush, John Rockefeller, and--hold onto your hats--the writer Stephen King. Though I have never seen any of these people in person (granted, it would be hard to see Mr. Rockefeller since he's been dead for years), I have spotted Tom Selleck cruising the Maine highways in his red Ferrai and navy blue Detroit Tigers baseball cap.
After graduating from high school I made the long trek west, where I attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah--the school that produced the future Hall of Famer Steve Young of the San Francisco Forty-Niners. At BYU, I earned a BA in history and political philosophy and an MA in history. My Master's thesis was on the revolutionary firebrand John Dickinson, best known for his refusal to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Since then I have abandoned studying 'dead white males' and am now interested in the politics and processes of early-state constitution making. It's more exciting than it sounds, really.
I have been married for four years, and my wife and I just had our first child, Madison, on February 2, Groundhog Day. In my spare time, when I'm not changing diapers, I hike, play basketball, and watch Jay Leno.

I'm Dave Lobb, from Los Angeles, Ca. I am a doctoral
student studying American extremism, particularly
the development of the Far Right in the late 19th and
20th centuries. I enjoy all sports, especially basketball
and rugby. When I am not studying, I am spending time
with my wife and chasing my beautiful little girl Meredith
(who is 16 months old).

My name is Mary Mankus. I am a Ph.D. student in the history department. I have a MA in history and a JD from Syracuse University College of Law. Instead of practicing law full time, I decided to work on my doctoral degree in history because my goal is to become a professor of history. My areas of interest include Twentieth Century United States history and United States Legal and Constitutional history.

I am Julien Vernet, a doctoral student whose area of specialization is early American history. I came to Syracuse University after completing my Masters' Degree at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Because I chose to study early American history, it was necessary that I come to study in the United States. My main area of interest within the field of early American history is French immigration to North America. I guess that my interest in this field stems from being raised in France and Canada. Recently, I finished my last comprehensive exam and am now looking forward to researching and writing my dissertation. This is my fifth semester as a Teaching Assistant for the Department of History. My interests in modern U.S. history are the New Deal and the Cold War.

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