Stephen Hausmann

Stephen Hausmann serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in American environmental history, Native American history, and the history of the American West. He teaches courses including Preservation, Sustainability, and Climate Action (HIS 1170) and America's National Parks (HIS 3238).

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in History from University of Vermont
• M.A. in History from University of Vermont
• Ph.D. in American Environmental History from Temple University

Dr. Hausmann's research interrogates environmental injustice through settler colonial frameworks, examining how cultural narratives shaped landscapes in the American West. His work centers on the Black Hills region, analyzing Mount Rushmore's construction and the 1972 Rapid City Flood to reveal erasure of Indigenous spaces. Current projects include completing his book Indian Country: An Environmental History of the Black Hills (University of Nebraska Press) and launching an environmental history of the Land Back movement spanning centuries.

His publications demonstrate consistent thematic focus on Indigenous-environmental intersections, with Mount Rushmore serving as recurring case study across journals like Western Historical Quarterly and public forums including the Washington Post. Recent work bridges academic scholarship and public history through analyses of national park storytelling and environmental memory.

Professional recognition includes:

• 2022 Arrell M. Gibson Award for best article in Native American history (Western History Association)

Research funding has been secured from the Newberry Library, Linda Hall Library, and Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, culminating in his 2024-2025 Mellon Fellowship at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He actively mentors students through classroom instruction and departmental engagement while serving on ASEH Executive Council and Western History Association committees.

Professional leadership includes serving as ASEH Assistant Director, Acting Executive Director (2024), and current Executive Council member, alongside committee roles for the Western History Association. His scholarly activities integrate with public history initiatives through National Park Service collaborations and media contributions.