History

Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of History, Washington University in St. Louis, 1998-2000.

Teaching Assistant, Department of History, Washington University in St. Louis, 1993, 1994, 1997.

Oakley Certificate of Merit, Association for Gravestone Studies, 2010 (for "fostering appreciation of the cultural significance of gravestones and burying grounds" through the Adams St. Cemetery project and showing "how cemetery research can be incorporated into the curriculum to engage students as well as the college and city community.")

Ohio Magazine''s Excellence in Education Award ("Memorable Educator"), 2009.

"Positive Force Award," from Multicultural Student Services, 2006.

"Excellence in Teaching,"  Students for BW award, 2005.

Honorary inductee, Mu Zeta chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science honor society, spring 2004 (nominated by student members).

"Most Inspiring Professor," Student Athlete Association award, spring 2003.

National Security Education Program (NSEP) Graduate Enhancement Fellowship, 1995-1997.

Full financial support, 1992-1997, through additional fellowships, tuition scholarships, and teaching assistantships, Washington University in St. Louis.

Current Research

"Hermaphrodites in Pre-Modern Islamic History." This is an inquiry into the legal status of ambiguously-sexed people from early Islamic times through the 1700s. Previous scholarship on this subject is scant and tainted by the projection into the past of Muslims' twentieth-century insistence on sexual dimorphism. My preliminary research suggests that pre-modern Muslims were accepting of gender diversity and that hermaphrodites inhabited a recognized medial space between male and female.

"Freedom Without, Freedom Within: The Unconventional Values of Baldwin Wallace University." I received a Gigax grant to write a history of the founding of BW in spring 2013. My investigation of the letters of John Baldwin and other founders of the university make clear that these early Methodist educational pioneers saw slavery as the chief evil of their time, and they interpreted slavery very broadly to include enslavement of people, enslavement to addiction, and enslavement to ignorance that allowed authorities to tyrannize the masses. Education was intended to free the mind from ignorance, to strengthen souls to resist temptation, and to empower individuals with knowledge that would allow them to act for the betterment of humanity. The founders were above all committed to offering education to all. Women, Native Americans, and the disabled were among the first students.

Islamic Reform and Conservatism: al-Azhar and the Evolution of Modern Sunni Islam.  London: I. B. Tauris, 2009. Paperback edition, 2013. Arabic translation, forthcoming 2014.

Adams Street Cemetery Database.  Biographical and genealogical information on 603 burials in Berea's oldest cemetery; collaborative research project with students.  Online at http://mcs.bw.edu/~bereahis

Adams Street Cemetery Walking Tour.  Collaborative publication with students. Brochure.  Baldwin Wallace History Department, 2008.

"Dinshaway Incident," "Muslim Brotherhood," and "'Urabi Rebellion" in Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450, ed. Thomas Benjamin. 3 vols. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007.

"Islamic Reformation: A History of Madrasa Reform and Legal Change in Egypt," Comparative Education Review 50, no. 3 (August 2006): 325-345.

Review of Wahhabi Islam: From Reform and Revival to Global Jihad, by Natana De-Long Bas, in History: Review of New Books 33 no. 2 (Winter 2005): 76-77.

"Nationalist Imagery in Egypt's Tabloid Presses: A Drawing from the Egyptian Papagallo," The Modern Middle East: A Sourcebook, eds. Camron M. Amin, Benjamin C. Fortna, and Elizabeth B. Frierson. London: Oxford University Press, 2006.

"Science in Religious Education: A Fatwa from 19th-Century Cairo," The Modern Middle East: A Sourcebook, eds. Camron M. Amin, Benjamin C. Fortna, and Elizabeth B. Frierson. London: Oxford University Press, 2006.

"Chaos on the Earth': Subjective truths vs. communal unity in Islamic law and the rise of militant Islam," American Historical Review 108, no. 3 (June 2003), 710-733.

"T. E. Lawrence," article in Biographical Dictionary of Literary Influences: The Twentieth Century, 1914-2000, eds. John Powell and Derek Blakeley. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 2003.

“Inspired by the Expired: Local History Projects and Programs in Cemeteries,” Ohio Local History Alliance State Meeting, Columbus, Ohio. October 6, 2012.

“Creating Mutually Beneficial Internships: A Case Study from the Adams St. Cemetery Project,” Ohio Local History Alliance Regional Meeting, Berea, Ohio. April 14, 2012.

“Understanding Egypt: Cultural, Economic, and Religious Explanations for the ‘Arab Spring’,” public lecture, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI. July 11, 2011.

"Muhammad 'Abduh's Critics: Religious Nationalism and Tabloid Journalism," Middle East Studies Association National Conference, San Francisco, CA, Nov. 2001.

"Minorities, Women, and the Quest for National Unity in 19th Century Europe," Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, February 16, 2000.

"Legal Indeterminacy in the Middle East," Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO, February 8, 2000.

"Azhar Conservatives in Negotiation of Reform at al-Azhar, 1890-1905," Middle East Studies Association National Conference, Washington D.C., Nov. 20, 1999.

"Cognitive Science and 'Tradition'," Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Research Symposium, Washington University, March, 1999.

"A New Approach to the History of Reform at al-Azhar," American Research Center in Cairo, Egypt, April 29, 1998.

"Alternative Sources for the History of Reform at al-Azhar," Fellows' Luncheon, American Research Center in Cairo, Egypt, April 1, 1998.

"Educational Reform in Early Twentieth-Century Egypt," Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Senate Research Symposium, Washington University, March 22, 1997. (Received award in humanities division.)

"Transmission of Categories in Interpretations of Ibn Khaldun," Western Michigan University, April 13, 1992.

Core Curriculum Subcommittee on Writing Requirements for the Revised Core, fall 2012.

Global Issues Committee, 2002-2004

BW Department of Education Grant participant, Asian Studies section, 2002-2003

Founding Member, Graduate History Association, Washington University in St. Louis (student organization), 1993

Arranged and organized public presentation by Dr. Naif al-Mutawa, creator of the Islamic-themed comic book The 99, in conjunction with NOCMES. May 2012.

“Egypt 2011: Spring or Fall,” panel discussion with Dr. Kelly Coble and Dr. Pete Moore (CWRU) on the Arab Spring and prospects for the future, October 18, 2011.

“The Arab Spring,” Adult Education Program, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Berea, Ohio. September 6, 2011.

B-W representative to NOCMES, the Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle East Studies, 2011-present.

B-W Representative to CERIS, the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies, 2005-present.

Assisted a Berea-area Eagle Scout in planning a restoration project for St. Adalbert Cemetery, 2011.

Organized a Gravestone Preservation Workshop on tombstone conservation methods led by Jonathan Appell, July 2009. 

Supervised internship for three students to clean, repair, and conserve tombstones at Adams St. Cemetery, July-August 2009.

Wrote successful applications for Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant in Arabic, for 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012.

Co-supervisor of Berea Oral History Initiative, with Dr. Molly Swiger. Internship for four students. Received training in oral history techniques, summer 2007; designed and ran workshop to train student interns and volunteers from the Berea Historical Society, summer 2007; resulted in interviews of local WWII, Korean war, and Vietnam war veterans, as well as locals on "the home front", fall 2007-spring 2008. 2008-2009 students initiated second phase of project, interviewing Berea residents on town history.

Supervisor of Adams Street Cemetery Project, 2006-present. Run as an internship for five students and one volunteer, summer 2006. Run as independent study, fall 2006. Run as Faculty-Student Collaborative Scholarship program, spring 2007, spring 2008, 2009-2010.

• 2009-2010: Led 11 students in researching burials at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery on Depot St., and co-wrote a play, "Speaking Stones," with Jack Winget and the students, performed on April 28-29, 2010.
•  
• Spring 2008: Completed Access database containing biographical and genealogical information for 603 burials at Adams St Cemetery (online August 2008); wrote walking tour brochure; two student researchers presented papers at Phi Alpha Theta Ohio Regional Conference in Kent, OH, 5 April 2008; one student presented paper at National Council for Undergraduate Research Conference in Salisbury, MD, 10 April 2008, and at Ovations 2008, and designed an interpretive exhibit for the Berea Historical Society and Mahler Museum, April-December 2008.
•  
• Gave walking tours of Adams St Cemetery for Alumni Weekend, 16 May 2008, and for Berea Garden Club, November 2007.
•  
• Summer 2007: Completed map of veterans' grave sites in Adams Street Cemetery, with reports of service records and biographical information (located graves of War of 1812 vet, Indian Wars vet, and possible Revolutionary War vet); delivered complete map of cemetery to Berea City Department of Public Service and Berea Historical Society; applied through Veterans Service Commission for replacement of ten damaged Civil War markers and one missing Indian War marker; integrated student research into an Access database; coordinated Ohio Humanities Council Internship for BW student preparing an exhibit on the Adams St Cemetery for the Mahler Museum; Served as guest speaker and Grand Marshall for American Legion Memorial Day Service and Parade, May 28, 2007 (for service to community).
•  
• Summer 2006: Trained five interns and one alumna volunteer to do archival research on interments at Adams St Cemetery, began mapping project, located and decorated graves of one WWI and 16 Civil War veterans.
•  

Faculty discussant at Phi Alpha Theta Historical Movie Night (Kingdom of Heaven), 16 April 2008.

TV interview on Adams Street Cemetery Project for Berea City School-TV program "A Community of Learning," Sept. 21, 2006.

Led follow-up discussion for Dr. Azar Nafisi's talk "Clash of Civilizations Revisited: The Republic of the Imagination," for Public Relations capstone seminar, Sept. 18, 2006. 

Participated in pilot project to test Audience Response Units (TurningPoint) for in-class quizzes. Used them consistently in two sections spring 2006; students enjoyed technology but did not perform better on quizzes. Pilot exposed problem with unit batteries.

College Representative to CERIS, the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies, 2005-present.

Faculty Advisor to Arabic Studies Club, 2005-present.

Took students to and helped one of them prepare a presentation for  the regional conference of Phi Alpha Theta (honor society in history) at Clarion University, Clarion, PA, April 2, 2005.

Lecture series for Adult Forum on Islam, "The Story of Islam," Islam and the West in the 20th Century and the Rise of Islamic Militancy," and "Islam and Women," St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Berea, OH, January23, January 30, February 6, 2005.

Guided discussion of Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, by Jean Sasson, "Let's Talk About It" Series, Medina County District Library, Brunswick, OH, October 21, 2004.

Organized and moderated the Modern Middle East Film series, including showings of Pascali's Island, Lawrence of Arabia, and Battle of Algiers, spring semesters 2001, 2002, and 2004.

Participated in panel presentation for the "Lean on Me!" Pedagogy Workshop series, "Making Groups Work -- Finding the right blend of lecture and team work," Friday, February 6, 2004.

Provided translation for an illustrated page of the Qur'an for front cover of the American Historical Review 108, no. 4 (October 2003).  Editors needed a translation to ensure that the page didn't contain "inappropriate" verses.

Faculty panel discussion on Operation Iraqi Freedom, Heritage Hall, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, March 31, 2003.

Served as Cleveland-area press resource on Operation Iraqi Freedom, spring 2003-present (Ex.: interviewed for article "Desert Storm not same as Iraq War now: Experts say oil not major issues this time, but Saddam's rule is," The News Sun [Thursday, April 3, 2003], 1-2; consulted with Adrienne Ross, congressional aide, for her trip to Baghdad in October 2003).

Wrote article for The Exponent on "Islam and Violence in the Media," vol. 89, is. 3 (Sept. 18, 2003), 2.

Community presentation, "Imperialism, Coca-colonization, and Reaction: The Middle East in the Twentieth Century," Understanding Islam series, First Congregational Church, Berea, OH, Jan. 20, 2002.

Faculty panel presentation, "Modeling Civil Disagreement: U. S. Responses to Sept. 11," Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, Oct. 25, 2001.

Faculty panel presentation, "Target: U.S.? Target: us? Making Sense of the Events of 9/11," Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, Sept. 25, 2001.

Served as community resource on Islam and the Middle East in wake of Sept. 11 (answered over 400 e-mail and phone inquiries).

Televised interview on Osama bin Ladin, CBS affiliate Channel 19/43 evening news, Friday, Sept. 14, 2001.

"From Western Michigan University to Egypt and Back," Alumna address for History Department Student Honors Reception, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, March 17, 2000.

Dr. Ahmet T. Karamustafa, Dept. of History, Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. David Commins, Dept. of History, Dickinson College

Dr. Kenneth Cuno, Dept. of History, University of Illinois

Dr. Steven E. Siry, Dept. of History, Baldwin Wallace University

Dr. Robert Montgomery, Dept. of History, Baldwin Wallace University

Dr. Ellen Posman, Dept. of Religion, Baldwin Wallace University

Dr. Ana De Freitas Boe, Dept. of English and Office of Academic Affairs, Baldwin Wallace University