Welcome to the Department of History at Western Michigan University.
History majors and minors at Western Michigan University are well positioned for the 21st century job market. As a historian-in-training, you will learn to ask questions that matter. You will become a proficient communicator and researcher. You will develop skills to gather information independently, think and respond critically, and make thoughtful and accurate judgments all while developing a broad historical knowledge. As a prospective teacher educator, you will also develop as a creative problem solver able to overcome obstacles, master any responsibility and lead with confidence.
The Department of History can help you achieve your professional goals.
Check out our undergraduate and graduate studies programs.
Find out what our undergraduate alumni think of their history education.
Our graduate alumni can give you a taste of career paths after your M.A. or Ph.D. degree in history.
News and events
- Dr. Sally Hadden was recently interviewed by the Cleveland Heights Public Library in Cleveland about her book, Slave Patrols, in connection with reading more deeply into the recently published work, The 1619 Project.
- Check out the results of the 2022 National History Day Contest. Our district had more top finishers than any other district in Michigan!
Dr. Ángela Pérez-Villa was profiled as one of three professors who inspire Latinx students in the Kalamazoo area by New/Nueva Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper in Southwest Michigan (pgs. 4-5).
- Dr. Lewis Carlson, Professor Emeritus, recently passed away. He retired from WMU in 1999. Please click here to read his obituary.
- Dr. Linda J. Borish was recently interviewed by WWMT about United States Women's National Team (in soccer) reaching a $24 million settlement.
- Dr. David Benac was interviewed by WMU News regarding climate change disinformation.
- Check out our fall 2021 newsletter!
- Dr. Sally Hadden participated in a roundtable on "Legacies of the Constitution" hosted by the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies, and the Thomas Paine Cottage-Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association.
- Five Top 10 Awards to District 6 Students at the National History Day Contest
- Congratulations to History students Joanne Jeya, Hannah Garrod, and Ian Daly for presenting the research they conducted in Dr. Ángela Pérez-Villa's HIST 4845 class at the Latin American and Latinx Studies Undergraduate Symposium organized virtually by Rollins College, Florida in April 2021.
- Dr. James Plamitessa recently had an article published in Austrian History Yearbook 52 (2021).
- Ph.D. Student, Kyle Vanderwall, co-authors the Teacher's Edition of the 10th edition of Henretta's America's History for the AP Course (Bedford, Freeman and Worth, 2021).
- Congratulations to our Spring 2021 History Department award winners!
- History Department alum, Dr. Tony Frazier, was selected as a 2021-22 National Humanities Fellow.
- Dr. Skylar Bre'z successfully defended her dissertation entitled, "The Coalitions of National Women's History Month: Practicalities and Consequences" on March 8, 2021. Her Committee consisted of Dr. Edwin Martini (Chair), Dr. Mitch Kachun, and Dr. Susan Freeman.
- History Department Newsletter, Fall 2020
- Dr. Wilson Warren's recent article published in Current History
- Professor Emeritus, Dr. Michael Nassaney, gave a largely-attended talk on the Underground Railroad
- Dr. Joshua Koenig's latest project released by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) and PBS
- Dr. Linda Borish was a key historian on PBS American Masters
- WMU and Aquinas College reach accord on accelerated B.A./M.A. program
- Successful dissertation defenses in Department of History
- Dr. Linda Borish receives college award
- History student award winners of 2020 announced
- Article published in Central European History by Ph.D. student Jason Rose
- Emeritus Mitch Kachun presents book talk for American Antiquarian Society on March 10
- Koenig and Keller win university research awards
- Ph.D. alum Tony Frazier highlighted in American Historical Association spotlight
Christopher Maiytt, graduate student, solves Kalamazoo Public Library film mystery
- Dr. Lewis Pyenson awarded Life Membership in Royal Society of Canada
- Public History student Tre Goodhue is Bringing History to Life
- Georgia Edmonds receives the 2019 Junior Outstanding Individual Award at National History Day
- 2007 Alumnus John Stempien Co-Edits The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardener's Companion
- Dr. Paul Maier presented with Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award
National association honors Dr. Sally Hadden for service
- Peter Dobek wins Kosciuszko Foundation Scholarship
- Dr. Sherwood "Woody" Cordier Memorial
- Joshua Koenig Contributes to Production of PBS Documentary
- Dr. José Brandão is interviewed by Student Media Group.
- Dr. John Norman Memorial
- Dr. Walter Brunhumer Memorial
- Dr. Michael Nassaney wins Excellence in Humanities Award
Past news from the Department of History.
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- Calendar of events
- Research by our award winning faculty and students