Ian F. McNeely

Ian F. McNeely is a Professor of History and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work bridges German history, European cultural history, and global comparative studies, with a focus on how intellectuals shape institutional frameworks. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1998), alongside M.A. (1993) and B.A. (1992) degrees from Harvard University.

His research explores 'practical intellectuals'—thinkers who actively reform institutions like universities, parliaments, and bureaucracies. Notable works include Reinventing Knowledge (2019), a comparative analysis of Western knowledge systems, and The University Unfettered (2025), addressing post-recession challenges in public higher education. His earlier studies examined figures like Rudolf Virchow and Napoleonic-era German scribes.

McNeely’s administrative experience informs his advocacy for academic resilience. He collaborates with Lisa Wolverton, co-author of Reinventing Knowledge, and has contributed to studies on neoliberal university reforms and Sixties counterculture’s impact on education. No formal grants or awards are listed, but his interdisciplinary approach underscores his role in shaping contemporary academic discourse.