Due to a number of retirements and a modest expansion related to Western Traditions teaching commitments, the Department has been able to add faculty members fairly regularly since 1990. In addition, several temporary visiting appointments have been made as a result of administrative reassignments and sabbatical leaves. The result is that the age distribution of the Department is well balanced, and the Department is rejuvenated by the recent additions to its ranks, both permanent and temporary. The History Department takes special pride in the degree to which both new tenure-track and temporary faculty members are integrated into its culture. Four of 14 tenure-track faculty members are female.
None is a member of a targeted ethnic group.
All hold the Ph.D. degree. Since the 1992 departmental master plan articulated a new emphasis on cultural and comparative history, faculty searches have emphasized preparation in those areas. Recent hires have supplemented existing strengths in interdisciplinary research and teaching and interest in cultural history. Four temporary Visiting Assistant Professors currently teach in the Department. Each of these faculty members offers courses at undergraduate and graduate level, including specialized seminars.