FacultyDaniel Byrne, Assistant Professor Dr. Byrne is the newest member of the department. He is fascinated by the history of U.S. foreign policy in all periods but is especially interested in U.S. relations with the Arab world, particularly Algeria in the 1950s and 1960s. His PhD is from Georgetown University, where he worked under some of the most eminent scholars in the area of American foreign policy. His B.A. is from Notre Dame; on Saturday afternoons in autumn he is often found in a football stadium in northern Indiana cheering on a team called ‘The Irish!’ James MacLeod, Professor Dr. MacLeod is from Scotland and is occasionally seen in his traditional kilt! He joined the department in 1999 and is one of the most popular teachers at UE, receiving the United Methodist Institutions outstanding teacher award in 2003. Dr. MacLeod’s PhD is from Edinburgh University, one of the premier universities in Europe, and he teaches stimulating courses on the World Wars and British history. His pride and joy are his children Eilidh and Calum, who are a wonderful combination of Scottish charm and American impishness. Annette Parks, Associate Professor Dr. Parks is a native of Georgia, did her PhD at Emory University, and joined the department in 1996. She does not like early morning classes and insists on calling students ‘urchins’! Other than those two quirks, she is perfectly normal. Her specialty is Medieval Europe and she is particularly interested in women’s history. She has recently developed a very popular course on “The West and Islam in the Middle Ages.’ It is a badly kept secret that chocolate is always available in her office. Burton Kirkwood, Associate Professor Dr. Kirkwood joined the department in 1995. He is a native of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and very proud of it. He disappears once or twice a year to go canoeing on the rivers of his native region. He is also an avid biker and can often be seen on the country roads around Evansville. His PhD is from Florida State and his specialty is Mexican and recent American history; he has a strong personal interest in the upheavals of the 1960s in the U.S. Daniel Gahan, Professor Dr. Gahan, department chair, is from Ireland (and insists that he cheers on the real ‘Irish,’ playing real football). He joined the department in 1986 and teaches courses in eighteenth and nineteenth-century European and American history. His specialty is Ireland in this period. His degrees are from the National University of Ireland and the University of Kansas. Dr. Gahan’s two children are both in college and so he claims to understand the current generation of students ‘as an insider.’
Ed Bujak, Associate Professor of British Studies Dr. Bujak is a permanent member of the Harlaxton faculty. This makes it especially easy for history majors to pursue their studies while in England, without any interruption of their degree program. Professor Bujak is a recipient of the University of Evansville’s Outstanding Teach Award. Dr. Bujak has made the Harlaxton experience rewarding in every aspect for all students, although he has a special soft spot for history majors. His sense of humor is legendary and his energy in the classroom is boundless. Professor Bujak’s specialty is Victorian England and he is particularly interested in the aristocracy and gentry in that period. |
