More About the Department of History
Public Engagement
Making sense of uncertain times
Our faculty stay connected to the larger university community and the broader public
because history provides us with a better understanding of our present. Check out
some of our faculty's recent engagements below.
Faculty Publications
"Why It Matters: Talks on the American Past"
In the past year, history department faculty published five new books. To celebrate
the authors and share their expertise with the public, the department launched a five-part
public program series called, "Why It Matters: Talks on the American Past." Check
out each of the talks below as well as a complete list of faculty book publications.
News
Public History Alumna Named One of Cowgirl Magazine's 30 Under 30!
COWGIRL Magazine just released their newest class of 30 Under 30 recipients, and Oklahoma State Public History alumna Kaitlyn Weldon has been named as part of
the class of 2024!
From the Cowgirl Social Team,
"This overwhelming task [of whittling down the list to just 30] is worth it, however, because these annual classes make up the leaders who rise to the top for their dedication to lead the way by opening doors, and sharing enthusiasm and encouragement in everything they do, amongst many other admirable traits."
Kaitlyn earned her M.A. in public history in 2021. She has since gone on to work as
the social media manager for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Earning this spot in the class of 2024 is an amazing and unique
honor! You can read more about 30 under 30, and see the rest of the list, here.
Get to Know Us
Faculty
With a broad range of thematic and regional expertise, our faculty work closely with students to pursue their interests.
Staff
Department of History staff are ready to help you navigate study at OSU.
Alumni Spotlight
Patricia Loughlin
Our M.A. and Ph.D. graduates have been placed at a variety of academic, public and
private institutions and organizations across the country.
“I am a proud graduate of the Ph.D. program in history at Oklahoma State University.
The faculty members in the department emphasized scholarship, professional development
and teaching experiences for graduate students. My writing skills improved in rigorous
graduate seminars and dissertation work. Oklahoma State was the best place for me
to study the American west.”Dr. Patricia Loughlin
Professor of History, University of Central Oklahoma
Patti Loughlin, professor of history at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Historical Society board member, received her Ph.D. in history from Oklahoma State in 2000. She has co-edited with Sarah Eppler Janda"This Land is Herland: Gendered Activism in Oklahoma from the 1870s to the 2010s" (University of Oklahoma Press, 2021), featuring thirteen scholars of Oklahoma history writing about thirteen women activists from the territorial period to the present. In partnership with the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center and Oklahoma Humanities, This Land is Herland Program Series was held online in the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19. The series marked the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment extending voting rights to women and women’s activism in Oklahoma more broadly. Currently, Loughlin and Janda are writing an Oklahoma history textbook for high school students for statewide adoption in 2025-26.
Loughlin is the author of "Hidden Treasures of the American West" (University of New Mexico Press, 2005), "Building Traditions, Educating Generations: A History of the University of Central Oklahoma" with Bob Burke (Oklahoma Heritage Association, 2007), "Main Street Oklahoma" co-edited with Linda Reese (University of Oklahoma Press, 2013) and "Angie Debo, Daughter of the Prairie" (Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 2017).
