History Department Graduate Alumnus Begins Tenure-Track Appointment
Daniel Graham, who completed his Ph.D. in Modern European history in our Department in 2020, has just completed his first semester as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Government at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. Before joining Bowie State, he had served as Coordinator of Education and Outreach at the College Park Aviation Museum in College Park, Maryland, and as adjunct or visiting professor at several universities.
Dan’s dissertation, under the direction of Professor Laura E.N. Mayhall, was entitled “‘Effected for Any Useful Purposes’: The Birth of Research and Development in the Rubber Industry, 1790-1890”. His research interests lie in the history of science, technology, and business, and in Modern European imperial history. Professor Mayhall notes: “Dan’s dissertation demonstrates a remarkable grasp and synthesis of the secondary literatures of a variety of fields, including science, technology, business practices, and patent litigation. The book he is currently preparing from his dissertation’s revision, ‘Structures of Change in the Chemical Age,’ promises to enlarge the scope of its analysis further, to consider the critical role chemistry played in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century technological innovation.”
Dan’s teaching at Bowie State includes a rotation of surveys, plus 200-level and upper-level elective courses; the latter have included Renaissance and Reformation history, research methods course, and an upper-level elective on Europe in the long nineteenth century. He says: “I love working at Bowie State; the students have been welcoming, my colleagues are friendly and supportive, and I have the opportunity to develop a variety of courses that interest me. At Bowie State, all the department members seem to genuinely like each other, and the environment is much more positive and inclusive as a result.”
Reflecting upon his path toward a tenure-track position, he notes: “In my job search, I noted that although your research is specialized, your teaching rarely is. My Ph.D. fields and dissertation are all within or related to European history, and I was able to talk about courses I had taught or would like to develop based on each of those connections. My graduate work also connected to longer-term goals within the department which were not mentioned in the job posting. For example, my department is developing a major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), so my grounding in the history of capitalism fit with the department’s plans for the future.
“I would also highlight that some of the things that make me a good fit for this position are not directly related to my Ph.D .fields and dissertation. Bowie State offers a minor in Museum Studies – I have a background in museum work, and taught courses on Public History and Museum Studies as an adjunct. University Leadership wants to encourage faculty to create cross disciplinary courses and programs – the Computer Science Department is piloting a program in Digital Humanities, and because of my own interest in coding and digital tools for history, I will be designing a Digital History component for that program. Although my PhD work definitely had the most direct impact, there are many ways in which other experiences and skills fit into a faculty position.”
It is hardly news that the academic job market is a tough one, making Dan’s success all the more impressive. For those facing the market, he says “I was applying to academic positions for 3 years, during which time I had 2 visiting professorships (temporary sabbatical replacements). Holding temporary or visiting positions before getting a tenure-track position is becoming the norm, so don’t discount those opportunities.
“I would add that my professors at Catholic University treated me like a professional before I believed I really was one, and that taught me a TON about how to conduct myself in the classroom, in meetings, at conferences, and in my daily interactions with colleagues. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to mentors like Dr. Mayhall, Dr. Muller, and Dr. Klimo.”
Professor Mayhall adds: “Dan's deep immersion in the social sciences – economics, sociology, and history – as well as his experience teaching in secondary and university classrooms gives him a unique ability to understand and meet the needs of his students. His students at Bowie State are fortunate, indeed!”