Melanie Beals Goan

Melanie Beals Goan is a Professor of History and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Kentucky's Department of History, within the College of Arts & Sciences. She has held academic roles since 2000, including Assistant Professor (2014–2021), Associate Professor (2017–2021), and her current rank since 2021. She directs the UK BLUE Bachelor to Law undergraduate program and advises undergraduate and graduate students.

Her research focuses on 20th-century US history, Appalachian history, gender, and healthcare. Notable works include A Simple Justice: Kentucky Women Fight for the Vote (2020) and Mary Breckinridge: The Frontier Nursing Service and Rural Health in Appalachia (2008). She has been honored with teaching awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Large Courses Award (2022) and the Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Award (2017).

Goan’s service includes roles on university committees, professional organizations, and community outreach. She has authored over 30 articles and book chapters, contributed to historical projects, and delivered numerous invited talks on suffrage, Appalachian healthcare, and Kentucky history.