UK College of Education Professor Is a Leading Historian in American Higher Ed
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 28, 2011) — If you've read anything in the past 15 years about higher education history in America, you've probably read something published by John Thelin.
A research professor of higher education and public policy in the University of Kentucky College of Education, Thelin has been at UK since 1996. In those past 15 years, he has become nationally renowned as UK's go-to expert for all things related to higher education policies and issues.
"I try to be useful in current policy discussions," says Thelin. "My goal is to bring a historical perspective when looking at today's significant higher education issues."
[IMAGE2]Thelin is an alumnus of Brown University, and received his master's degree in American istory and Ph.D. in the history of education from the University of California, Berkley. He went on to work in a variety of administrative positions in higher education, and eventually became research director for California’s 64 independent colleges and universities in 1979, which sparked his interest and involvment with public policy at the state and federal levels. Over the years, Thelin developed even more interests ranging from the study of philanthropy and foundations to economics of higher education to the study of college sports, which Thelin says keeps drawing him back.
"UK has been a very hospitable place for me to pursue these interests," says Thelin, who also has a joint appointment with the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration.
Thelin’s book, "A History of American Higher Education," explores the history of colleges and universities, particularly campus life, as part of American popular culture. The book has remained the standard account of the evolution of American universities and colleges since its publication in 2004 by the Johns Hopkins University Press. The book is currently sold out, and a new, expanded second edition will be available this November.
More recently, Thelin has been featured in a variety of formal and news publications discussing issues from southern U.S. research universities to diversity.
A new book, titled "The University: An Illustrated History," includes an extended chapter by Thelin titled "Universities in North America," which tells the overall history of colleges and universities in both the U.S. and Canada from the past three centuries and the struggles and strides both have made. It includes information on enrollment growth, how universities became structured like bureaucracies, and how the U.S. government began working with universities during World War II to not only help develop weapons, but to use their expertise to bring down cultural and language barriers in a time when the world was becoming increasingly globalized.
Thelin is also featured in the recently published "New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture," volume 17 on education. He co-authored a major chapter with University of Mississippi's Amy E. Wells titled "Research Universities in the South" that discusses topics such as the important role southern universities play in their communities, as well as their strong associations with athletic programs.
Additionally, the History News Network (HNN) published an op-ed last month by Thelin discussing the historical relevance of diversity in U.S. colleges and universities. The piece can be read at http://hnn.us/articles/140059.html.
Thelin further discusses the topics examined in these publications in the video above.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, (859) 257-5343; Jenny.Wells@uky.edu
