A Passion for History

History binds us together. It is the collection of stories that reveal our shared values, even as politics and culture drive us apart. I have a passion for working with teachers, and for speaking to people about the lessons history imparts. I have led National Endowment for the Humanities summer institutes for school teachers, created advanced pedagogical materials to teach active history, and have consulted for various educational organizations.

If you are interested in retaining me as a consultant or speaker, contact me via email.

My Experience

My expertise is primarily in constitutional history, but also in a variety of subjects in early American history. Find some of my educational materials on this page for a snippet of my substance and style.

Co-Director, NEH Institute

Courting Liberty: Slavery and Equality under the Constitution, 1770-1870

These institutes, which ran from 2016 through 2021, were devoted to understanding the twin legacies of a proslavery Constitution and antislavery constitutionalism that dominated the first half of American history.

As a speaker, my main focus is to relate powerful stories that show history’s importance and vitality.

I also love the unexpected, the surprising and, occasionally, the absurd.

In addition to American history, I taught classes in leadership and civil rights. Along with colleagues at Georgia State University, I developed a game for students based on the Atlanta Sit Ins movement of the 1960s.