S2E11 Kurt Hackemer - University of South Dakota

Our guest today is Kurt Hackemer, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of South Dakota, where he is also, incidentally, a Professor of History. Kurt received his MA and PhD from Texas A&M University after earning his BA in History at the University of Chicago. Kurt is the author of To Rescue My Native Land": The Civil War Letters of William T. Shepherd (University of Tennessee Press) and The U.S. Navy and the Origins of the Military-Industrial Complex, 1847-1883 (Naval Institute Press). He has contributed to a variety of edited volumes, and his articles have been published in the Journal of Military History, Civil War History, the Journal of the Civil War Era, and Civil War Times, among many others.

At the University of South Dakota, he was named the Truman & Beverly Schwartz Distinguished Faculty Award from the College of Arts & Sciences and the Regents Award for Research Excellence. To better help students at USD, Kurt entered the dark world of university administration, where he has worn many hats, including Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, interim Director of Diversity, interim Registrar, acting Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies, and Chair of the History Department!!!!!!! And now, after serving as interim Provost, he's THE Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Brian wonders why Kurt failed to duck in time)!

And, oh yeah, he’s also in the USD pep band. Kurt has a distinguished record of service to the Society for Military History - he is the current webmaster and editor for the SMH Headquarters Gazette. In 2003, the SMH honored his service with its Victor Gondos Memorial Service Award (Now the Edwin H. Simmons Award).

Kurt's great story includes Germans, much to Brian's delight. Join us as we discuss the field of military history, the humanities, balancing research and administration, and living in South Dakota!

Rec.: 07/17/2022