Matthew Klingle

Matthew Klingle is an Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Bowdoin College, serving as Director of the Environmental Studies Program. His research focuses on the North American West, environmental history, urban history, and the history of science and medicine. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington (2001) and has received prestigious fellowships from the Mellon Foundation, NEH, and others.

His major works include Emerald City: An Environmental History of Seattle (2007), which explores ecological and social consequences of urbanization, and the forthcoming Sweet Blood: Diabetes and the Nature of Modern Health, examining the environmental and social roots of the diabetes epidemic. Klingle’s research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, emphasizing connections between health, environment, and equity.

Key awards include the Ray Allen Billington Prize (2009) for Emerald City and the Sydney B. Karofsky Prize for teaching (2006). His work has been supported by NEH grants, Mellon Foundation fellowships, and international collaborations like the Rachel Carson Center. Klingle has advised honors theses on topics ranging from environmental justice to urban policing, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to history and environmental studies.