Nathan Phelps

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Biography

Nathan Phelps is a "cheesehead" from Wisconsin; although he has also lived in Wyoming, Texas, and since 1996, Kentucky. As an undergraduate, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he double-majored in History and Anthropology. After graduating from the UW, he tried his hand at archaeology and attended field school at the University of California. After working in the desert in central California, he moved to Mexico for several months to conduct research on Mayan settlement patterns throughout the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Despite his love for adventure and salsa, he decided that as a newly-wed, his family life would be improved if he pursued a career that involved libraries and books, instead of remote locations and pot shards. So, in the fall of 1990, he switched back to history and started the Ph.D. program in American History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a five-year Dorothy Danforth-Compton Scholarship.

While attending the University of Texas from 1990-1996, he earned numerous academic awards and honors, presented more than twenty scholarly papers at conferences, and taught classes at both UT and at Austin Community College. He also practiced Tae Kwon Do, enjoyed the musical and culinary offerings of the city, did a lot of mountain biking (racking up more than 120 stitches for his efforts!), and shared in the thrill of starting a family with his wife Katrina. His scholarly work at UT focused primarily on colonial religion and American Indian History. His Master's thesis explores events related to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 in New Mexico, and his in-process Ph.D. dissertation examines the transforming nature of American Indian identity during the first three generations of English-Indian interaction in New England. His current research focuses on analyzing global trends and exploring perceptions of local, national, and international political efficacy as a part of the American Democracy Project.

In 1996, he moved with his family to Bowling Green, Kentucky where his wife accepted a position in the Psychology Department at Western Kentucky University. After teaching at Volunteer State Community College for four years, as an Assistant Professor of History, Nathan joined the faculty of the University College at WKU in the summer of 2001.

Currently, he teaches University Experience seminars, History courses, and Interdisciplinary Honors colloquia. He also serves as the Academic Director of the Gateway Program, and as the WKU “Seven Revolutions Scholar” in conjunction with the New York Times and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.

Courses I Teach
UE 175 (University Experience) – to see what we do, visit our class blog
HIST 120 (Western Civilization from 1648)
HIST 240 The United States to 1865
HIST 241 The United States Since 1865
HIST 440 Colonial American History
HIST 358/359 African- American History
HIST 353 Native American History
HON 300- Interdisciplinary Honors Colloquium

Educational Background
ABD, History, University of Texas at Austin, 1996
MA, History, University of Texas at Austin, 1993
BA, History and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989

Current Research Interests
Innovative approaches to the teaching and learning process
Probable/preferable futures and the political process
Globalization and technology
Critical Thinking in higher education
Gender and Learning
History of running and leadership

Other Interests
When he isn't working on "university" business, Nathan enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids perform or play sports, hanging out with friends (especially when there's a grill involved), running, reading, writing, working in the yard, oil painting, building things out of wood, listening to music (almost anything from the Foo Fighters to Neil Young), traveling, skiing, sailing, riding his mountain bike, and hitting the road on his motorcycle. He also works with several community organizations, including the Greenways Commission of Bowling Green-Warren County and the Bowling Green Road Runners.

University Experience	Nathan Phelps University Experience/History Instructor Academic Director of the Gateway Program Cherry Hall 225B Phone: 270-745-3447 Email: nathan.phelps@wku.edu

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Biography Nathan Phelps is a "cheesehead" from Wisconsin; although he has also lived in Wyoming, Texas, and since 1996, Kentucky. As an undergraduate, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he double-majored in History and Anthropology. After graduating from the UW, he tried his hand at archaeology and attended field school at the University of California. After working in the desert in central California, he moved to Mexico for several months to conduct research on Mayan settlement patterns throughout the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Despite his love for adventure and salsa, he decided that as a newly-wed, his family life would be improved if he pursued a career that involved libraries and books, instead of remote locations and pot shards. So, in the fall of 1990, he switched back to history and started the Ph.D. program in American History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a five-year Dorothy Danforth-Compton Scholarship. While attending the University of Texas from 1990-1996, he earned numerous academic awards and honors, presented more than twenty scholarly papers at conferences, and taught classes at both UT and at Austin Community College. He also practiced Tae Kwon Do, enjoyed the musical and culinary offerings of the city, did a lot of mountain biking (racking up more than 120 stitches for his efforts!), and shared in the thrill of starting a family with his wife Katrina. His scholarly work at UT focused primarily on colonial religion and American Indian History. His Master's thesis explores events related to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 in New Mexico, and his in-process Ph.D. dissertation examines the transforming nature of American Indian identity during the first three generations of English-Indian interaction in New England. His current research focuses on analyzing global trends and exploring perceptions of local, national, and international political efficacy as a part of the American Democracy Project. In 1996, he moved with his family to Bowling Green, Kentucky where his wife accepted a position in the Psychology Department at Western Kentucky University. After teaching at Volunteer State Community College for four years, as an Assistant Professor of History, Nathan joined the faculty of the University College at WKU in the summer of 2001. Currently, he teaches University Experience seminars, History courses, and Interdisciplinary Honors colloquia. He also serves as the Academic Director of the Gateway Program, and as the WKU “Seven Revolutions Scholar” in conjunction with the New York Times and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. Courses I Teach UE 175 (University Experience) – to see what we do, visit our class blog HIST 120 (Western Civilization from 1648) HIST 240 The United States to 1865 HIST 241 The United States Since 1865 HIST 440 Colonial American History HIST 358/359 African- American History HIST 353 Native American History HON 300- Interdisciplinary Honors Colloquium Educational Background ABD, History, University of Texas at Austin, 1996 MA, History, University of Texas at Austin, 1993 BA, History and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989 Current Research Interests Innovative approaches to the teaching and learning process Probable/preferable futures and the political process Globalization and technology Critical Thinking in higher education Gender and Learning History of running and leadership Other Interests When he isn't working on "university" business, Nathan enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids perform or play sports, hanging out with friends (especially when there's a grill involved), running, reading, writing, working in the yard, oil painting, building things out of wood, listening to music (almost anything from the Foo Fighters to Neil Young), traveling, skiing, sailing, riding his mountain bike, and hitting the road on his motorcycle. He also works with several community organizations, including the Greenways Commission of Bowling Green-Warren County and the Bowling Green Road Runners.