Dickinson State University (DSU) has added a new historian to its faculty in the hiring of the Dennis & Vaune Johnson endowed chair in U.S. history. Thanks to Dennis and Vaune Johnson’s generous gift, the university is pleased to announce that Jeff Wells has accepted the position. This announcement comes after the news that Michael Patrick Cullinane joins DSU as the Lowman Walton endowed chair of Theodore Roosevelt studies.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Wells to DSU. He has proven himself to be an excellent historian and teacher and will bring a wonderful energy and drive to our history program. Together with Dr. Cullinane and our European historian Dr. David Meier, he rounds out what I am convinced is one of the strongest history programs in the region,” stated Brent Rogers, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at DSU.
DSU interim vice president and provost John S. Miller shared his enthusiasm for how Wells will impact the campus, “Expanding perspectives on the multidimensional and cyclic nature of history is, now more than ever, critical to a well-rounded and relevant education. The addition of Dr. Wells strengthens the ranks of our resident historians and offers yet another ‘value-added’ proposition to student learning opportunities at DSU.”
Wells was recently an associate professor of history at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He is the president of the Midwestern History Association and holds a doctorate in history from Texas Christian University. Wells is also experienced in mentoring undergraduate research, which will benefit history majors at DSU.
“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Wells joining us to boost an already strong history program,” said Dickinson State President Steve Easton. “We thank Dennis and Vaune Johnson, and other supporters, for providing the resources that made it possible for us to get him to Dickinson State. Our students will long benefit from their generosity.”
During the previous academic year, distinguished historian Stacy Cordery, author of a New York Times best-selling book, “Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker,” served as the first Dennis and Vaune Johnson endowed chair. Cordery has returned, as planned, to her work at Iowa State University.
For more information on the DSU history programs and opportunities to take classes from endowed chairs, please visit www.dickinsonstate.edu/history.