Annie Gilbert Coleman

Annie Gilbert Coleman is an Associate Professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and Director of the Sport, Media, and Culture (SMAC) Minor. She holds a BA in History from Williams College and MA/PhD in History of the American West from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Her research explores the cultural and environmental history of outdoor sports, focusing on topics such as skiing, national parks, and the American West. Key themes include the intersection of sports with environmental conservation, racial dynamics in outdoor recreation, and the role of technology in shaping outdoor experiences.

Her publications include seminal works like Ski Style: Sport and Culture in the Rockies (2004) and articles analyzing the Colorado River’s environmental history and GoPro’s impact on mountain sports culture. Coleman is a Faculty Affiliate with the Initiative on Race and Resilience, Environmental Humanities Initiative, and Environmental Change Initiative, and serves on the Faculty Advisory Board for the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study.

Her current book project examines the labor of professional outdoor guides and their role in shaping perceptions of wilderness as a site of adventure and sport. This work bridges labor history with environmental studies, offering new insights into how guides mediate human-nature interactions.