Dale Potts

Dale Potts is an Associate Professor of History at the School of American & Global Studies, South Dakota State University. He holds an M.A. in Humanities from The Pennsylvania State University (1997) and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Maine at Orono (2007). His academic interests span American environmental history, American Indian history, American popular culture, and the social and cultural history of the U.S., with a focus on nature writers and the modern environmental movement.

Dr. Potts has held significant academic responsibilities, including teaching courses like United States History I and II, Environmental History of the U.S., and World Environmental History. He actively participates in committees such as the History Program Lead and the Graduate School Representative. His professional memberships include the American Folklore Society, Agricultural History Society, and the American Society for Environmental History.

His research explores intersections between literature, environment, and culture, with notable works analyzing writers like Hal Borland, Jesse Stuart, and Henry Perley. He has received prestigious awards, including the 2022 Timothy J. Nicholas Award for academic advising and the 2020 Edward Patrick Hogan Award for teaching excellence.

Potts’ scholarly contributions include over 20 journal articles, book chapters, and conference presentations. His work frequently addresses environmental stewardship, Indigenous perspectives in literature, and the cultural narratives shaping American landscapes. He has also reviewed numerous books for journals like Environmental History and the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.

His research extends to collaborative projects, such as contributions to The Historical Atlas of Maine and co-authorship of Rediscovering the Maine Woods. Potts’ interdisciplinary approach bridges history, literature, and environmental studies, emphasizing the role of storytelling in understanding human-environment relationships.