Gardner Bovingdon

Gardner Bovingdon is an Associate Professor at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. He also holds adjunct roles as Adjunct Associate Professor in East Asian Languages and Cultures, History, and Political Science. His research focuses on contemporary Xinjiang politics, modern Xinjiang history, historiography in China, nationalism, and ethnic conflict.

Education: PhD in History from Cornell University (2002). Research interests include the intersection of Chinese state policies, Uyghur identity, and historical narratives in Xinjiang. His notable work The Uyghurs: Strangers in Their Own Land (2010) examines Uyghur minority dynamics under Chinese rule.

Publications span articles analyzing CCP policy impacts, contested historical narratives, and ethnic resistance in Xinjiang. His work often critiques the political construction of history and its implications for minority groups.

Advising: Currently mentoring doctoral student Bill Mankins. Affiliated with Indiana University's Global and International Studies program.