Faculty Ambassador: Russ Crawford

I teach a wide variety of history classes, including Western Civilization, 20th Century U.S., World War II, East Asia, and Sport. The Western Civilization classes are part of our general education requirement, and in addition to teaching the fascinating story of how the West has evolved over the centuries, I also work with students to develop skills they can use throughout the University. My sport history classes focus on sport as an important feature of our culture; through games, we can learn a great deal about how American culture became what it is today. The East Asian courses are part of ONU’s Asian Studies minor, and in summer 2010 I am off to China to teach a course in Chengdu, which should give me some fascinating insights. Along with my teaching duties, I advise students majoring in social studies. Before earning my Ph.D. in history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I earned a B.S. in social studies education from Chadron State College and taught in public schools for eight years. After teaching at a large, public university for a year, I came to ONU, and I much prefer the small university feel. The students at ONU are a superior bunch, and it is my pleasure to help guide them through their university careers!