Heather Dichter

Dr. Heather Dichter is an Associate Professor at the School of Humanities within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities at De Montfort University (DMU). She holds a PhD in History from the University of Toronto (2008), following degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina. Her research specializes in sport history, focusing on diplomacy, twentieth-century Europe, and international relations, particularly during the Cold War and postwar periods.

Her work examines the intersection of sport and diplomacy, including Olympic bidding controversies, NATO’s influence on international sport, and the role of sport in Germany’s postwar reconstruction. She has published extensively on these topics, including books such as Bidding for the 1968 Olympic Games (2021) and Soccer Diplomacy (2020), which explore the political dimensions of sport events.

• Education:
  • B.A., History, University of Michigan
  • M.A., History, University of North Carolina
  • Ph.D., History, University of Toronto (2008)

Dr. Dichter’s research has earned awards such as the ISHPES Award (2019) and the British Society of Sports History Lord Aberdare Literary Prize (2002). She actively contributes to academic communities, serving on editorial boards and committees for organizations like the North American Society for Sport History and the British Academy. Her current projects include expanding research on sport history in Africa and supervising doctoral students in sport heritage, politics, and policy.

Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, addressing modern challenges like Olympic boycotts and the role of sport in international relations, as seen in her Washington Post op-eds. She also leads initiatives such as the British University and College Sport (BUCS) Archives and History group, ensuring the preservation of sport history.