Indiana State University History Department

10/07/2026

All of American history in 90 minutes? The ISU Theater Department is going to give it a try in their forthcoming comedy, "The Complete History of America (abridged)." The History Department is teaming up with the Political Science Department this Friday, when a large group of students and faculty will attend the show together. After the performance, Prof. Lisa Phillips, Rev. Terry Clark, and Prof. Matthew Bergbower will take part in an on-stage panel to reflect on the play and take questions from the audience. Tickets are still available, so come out and join us!

09/30/2026

Come join us this Saturday, October 3, 3:00-5:00pm at the Vigo County History Center for a forum on acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns’ "The American Revolution." This special event, a collaboration between the ISU History Department, WFYI, the Vigo County History Center, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, begins with a screening of an excerpt from Burns’ latest documentary project. Following the film, a panel of historians, educators, and community leaders—including Professors Don Maxwell, Lisa Phillips, and Anne Foster, Vigo County Historian Suzy Dunning, Native American Museum Director Jane Creedon, and local high school teachers—will share reflections on the documentary’s themes, historical interpretations, and contemporary relevance. The program concludes with an audience question-and-answer session, offering an opportunity for thoughtful discussion of the people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation’s founding. Admission is free. We hope to see you there!

09/26/2026

09/17/2026

Congratulations to Steve Zink (B.S. in History, 1974), one of this year's recipients of the University's Distinguished Alumni Award! Steve and Lois's steadfast support of the History Department through their endowed student scholarship, faculty development fund, and positive interactions with students and faculty are deeply impactful and greatly appreciated. Congrats, Steve!

Indiana State University is proud to recognize Joe Evelo, Rachel Leslie, and Steve Zink as the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Honored for their professional achievements and commitment to their communities, this year’s recipients will also lead the Blue and White Homecoming Parade as ...

09/14/2026

Thanks to generous support from the Department of History’s Steve Zink Faculty Development Fund, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the ISU Provost’s Office, Prof. Steven Stofferahn had the opportunity to share his research at the University of Duesseldorf in Germany on September 3. The conference, on the theme of “Contested Ground: Addressing Difficult Aspects of the Medieval,” featured presentations by scholars (pictured here) from Germany, England, France, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Czechia, India, Italy, and the United States. It also gave Dr. Stofferahn the chance to snap a photo at the same spot near the Uni-Bibliothek—at the crossroads of Merovingian and Carolingian Streets—where he had studied an early medieval manuscript back in 1998. It appears that the street signs aren’t the only things that have gained some “life experience” during the intervening twenty-eight years! 😊

07/25/2026

Prof. James Gustafson kicks off the College of Arts and Sciences’ new “Field Notes,” recounting his recent research trip to Central Asia, made possible through the generous support of alumnus Steve Zink.

06/05/2026

Prof. James Gustafson recently returned from Uzbekistan, where he conducted research for a book project examining the history of water use in Central Asia, one of the world's most ecologically vulnerable regions. During his trip he interviewed farmers, orchardists, feed mill owners, and seasonal workers to better understand how drought and climate change are affecting communities across the region. The research was made possible through the Steve Zink History Faculty Development Fund, established through the generosity of Indiana State alumnus Steve Zink (Class of 1974) and his wife, Lois. Opportunities like these allow faculty to remain active scholars in their fields while bringing current research, global perspectives, and real-world experience back to the classroom. Dr. Gustafson's work reflects the important role faculty research plays in advancing knowledge and enriching student learning at Indiana State. Way to go, James, and thank you again, Steve and Lois!

04/30/2026

We had a great senior send-off dinner at the Terminal Pub last night. A very nice opportunity for students and faculty to reflect upon the past few years, and to enjoy some fun and fellowship at the end of a busy semester. Congratulations, History and Social Studies Education graduates of 2026, and best wishes for the future!

04/29/2026

It's awards season, and the History Department has a lot to celebrate! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to award over $16,000 in merit-based academic scholarships to History, AFRI, and Social Science Education students. In addition, Debs Graduate Fellowships provide up to $20,000, and the Senior-Dauer Fund supports study-abroad experiences totaling up to $25,000 each year, thereby conveying over $60,000 in annual aid to students. Several of our graduating seniors, both majors and minors, also earned Latin honors and university medallions. Congratulations!

04/27/2026

Two of our students, Jacob Harmon and Corbyn Irwin (both double-majoring in History and Political Science) had the opportunity to take part in a Sustainable Cities research project supervised by Prof. Nathan Myers of the Indiana State University - Political Science Department this semester. They presented their findings at a public forum last week at the Vigo County Public Library, and also had the chance to share their insights on local media. Thank you, Dr. Myers, and congratulations to Corbyn and Jacob!

ISU students' community research project presentation