David Fitzsimons

David Fitzsimons is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he has taught since 2007. He holds an MA and PhD in History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with specializations in US foreign relations, American history (pre- and post-1877), and film studies focusing on war films. His interdisciplinary background includes Political Science, with expertise in political ideology, international relations, and voter ignorance.

• Education:
• MA in History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• PhD in History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

His research explores US foreign policy across historical eras and its intersections with cinematic representation, particularly in the context of the Vietnam War. Fitzsimons has presented at major conferences such as the American Historical Association and the American Political Science Association.

He secured an $837,000 grant for Providence Public School System to improve social studies education and has a history of successful grant writing. His teaching includes courses on the Cold War, Vietnam War, and cinematic depictions of conflict. Fitzsimons advises students on Independent Study Projects in American history.

• Awards:
• Stuart Bernath Scholarly Article Prize (Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations)

Fitzsimons has held pre-doctoral fellowships at Harvard University and served as a visiting scholar at Brown University, further enriching his academic contributions.