Aaron Sheehan-Dean

Aaron Sheehan-Dean is the Fred C. Frey Professor and Department Chair in the Department of History at Louisiana State University's College of Humanities & Social Sciences. His academic work focuses on 19th-century American history with specialization in Civil War studies, Southern history, and Reconstruction.

Education:

• BA from Northwestern University (1992)
• MA from University of Virginia (1999)
• PhD from University of Virginia (2003)

Research Interests: Sheehan-Dean examines the social and political dimensions of the Civil War era, particularly in Virginia. His work explores violence dynamics, morality in warfare, Confederate mobilization, class relations in military units, and regional identity formation during national crises. His current research investigates the intersection of morality and the laws of war.

Publications Focus: His scholarship consistently addresses the lived experiences of Civil War participants, with thematic emphasis on political legitimacy, social stratification, military enlistment patterns, and the construction of historical memory. Geographic focus centers on Virginia, while methodological approaches blend social, political and military history.

Awards and Honors:

• Distinguished Lecturer, Organization of American Historians (2009-present)
• Fletcher Jones Foundation Fellow at The Huntington Library (2002)
• Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship, Virginia Historical Society (2001)

Academic Leadership: Directs graduate research on 19th-century American social/political history and Civil War topics. Teaches courses on Civil War/Reconstruction, New South history, and graduate seminars on 19th-century America.