New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

[jarednichols]

I just saw this in my West Virgini University alumni newsletter (excerpts follow)

"Before you know it, the year will be 2011, time to mark the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War. Shortly thereafter will come the susquicentennial of the creation of the State of West Virginial and as all West Virginia school children know, the creation of the state is intimately linked to the War Between the States.

With these observances fast approaching, Dean May Ellen Mazey, working with the Department of History, designated one of the Eberly College's Professorships to be used to attract a senior scholar of the Civil War to West Virginia University. The search is being conducted in the Spring semester of 2007, and we hope to profile in our next magazine the person selected for this important academic post......"

"West Virginia University, with its many cultural and historic associations with the Civil War, is uniquely positioned to support the academic work of a Civil War scholar......."

" The college has established the Civil War Studies Enrichment Fund, and we hope you will consider making a contribution. This flexible fund, under the stewardship of the chair of the Department of History, will be used only to support the Civil War Studies Program....."

"This program will need special support, for we anticipate the need to develop new courses at the undergradaute and graduate level concentrating on the conflict and the political, social and economic issues associated with it. New research by faculty and students alike will contribute to current scholarship on the Civil War. More library resources will be needed, as well as special support to travel and develop programs within the state and the region which will reach out from the academic world to the citizens and school children at the local level. Scholarship dollars to support students will also be very important (HINT, HINT) ........"

and finally the pitch the $$$$$ pitch

"Please consider supporting this fund with a check made out to the WVU Foundation with 2U146/Civil War on the memo line. The address of the WVU Foundation is P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650. If you prefer to donate by credit card, that transaction can be made by visiting www.wvuf.org and clicking on contribute. ..."

"Look forward to future reports. Questions can be directed to Dr. Robert Blobaum, Chair of the Department of History at robert.blobaum@mail.wvu.edu "


Alright, for all of you that are fighting to find jobs...here is one University that is in the buisness of hiring right now....

not that i am biased, but its a great campus, with a great location..heck the school owns the cabin and grounds where "Stonewall" Jackson was raised at "Jackson's Mill" and it is easy to head any direction to check out Civil War sites north, south, east or west.

Jared Nichols
WVU ALUMNI 2003

[Dignann]

Re: New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

Jared,

WVU has already found their CW scholar:

Carmichael to chair Department of History’s Civil War Studies program

Morgantown, WV, May 23, 2007: A Civil War scholar from the University of North Carolina Greensboro will join the West Virginia University faculty this fall as the first Eberly Civil War Studies Professor in the Department of History.

Dr. Peter S. Carmichael, whose scholarly research focuses on the American South and the Civil War, will come to WVU to work with doctoral students, teach courses at the undergraduate level, and engage in public outreach.

“What is unique about this endowed professorship is that it brings together scholarship, teaching, and service. The position offers a wonderful unity among all three responsibilities as a professor,” Carmichael said.

The addition of a Civil War scholar to the department’s faculty will strengthen the graduate level history curriculum and will offer students the chance to work with a number of 19th century scholars whose research overlaps.

“The Eberly Professorship in Civil War Studies unites teaching, service, and research in an organic relationship that will provide the necessary support to make my scholarly research accessible to students and the general public,” Carmichael said.

Carmichael earned his BA in history from Indiana University at Indianapolis in 1988, and his MA and Ph.D. from Penn State University in 1992 and 1996, respectively. He was named a Mellon Research Fellow at the Virginia Historical Society in 2002 and also served as a Scholar-in-Residence at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

He has written and edited several books including “The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion” (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2005), “Lee’s Young Artillerist: William R. J. Pegram” (University Press of Virginia, 1995) and “Audacity Personified: The Generalship of Robert E. Lee” (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2004). He is currently working on a book entitled “Black Rebels,” which will explore the experience of slaves who served as Confederate soldiers.

Carmichael hopes that the position will allow him to share knowledge not only with students, but with the public as well.

“This provides an opportunity to take my research and make it accessible to a broader audience. I believe that the new program will bring a great deal of attention to WVU and that it will attract the attention of potential students as well as the general public. This is a unique opportunity to connect with a range of audiences.”

http://www.as.wvu.edu/onlinemedia/archives/2007/May/carm.html

Eric

[jarednichols]

Re: New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

Well don't that beat all! Well it takes awhile to get info while we are deployed overseas, but its good to know they have a department up and running with a chair.

Mabye its about time i head back to the alma mater and get another degree, and this time i think i will go to class.

[CeeBeeRebel]

Re: New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

Jared,

I might look into taking that if I can work it into my masters when I re enroll. Morgantown has changed a lot in the last few years. You wouldn't hardly recognize it. Where are you from originally?

[jarednichols]

Re: New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

Brandon,

Well like 50% of the student body i am from out of state, New York to be specific. I went to WVU from 1999-2003 and graduated with a BS in History. I am really considering this degree as an option, i'm really glad they put this long overdue program together... Must have some Civil War buff in the high muckty muck chain of command at WVU, i heard they built and commemorated a new dorm called "Abraham Lincoln Hall" near the football field. Where are you from and when did you attend?

[CeeBeeRebel]

Re: New Civil War History Department ....and they're hiring!!

I'm from about fifteen miles west of town. I was there officially from 2003-2007, but I guess you could say I've been in Morgantown since 1984. Still living fifteen miles from town and in the big debate of grad school while substitute teaching or just subbing and working a night job somewhere. Potomac State College (Lil' WVU) has had the Civil War program for several years.