Brooks R. Blevins

Dr. Brooks R. Blevins is a Professor and the inaugural Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University. He holds a PhD (1999) and MA (1996) from Auburn University and a BA (1992) from Lyon College. His expertise spans the history of the U.S. South, with a focus on the Ozarks and Appalachia. Blevins has authored seven books, edited/co-edited two volumes, and contributes to cultural preservation through roles such as editor of the Chronicles of the Ozarks Series and chair of the Ozark Folk Cultural Center Commission.

His research emphasizes regional identity, agricultural history, and the intersection of religion and society in the Southern U.S. Notable works include A History of the Ozarks and Arkansas/Arkansaw, which have earned accolades such as the Violet B. Gingles Award and multiple John G. Ragsdale Book Awards. Blevins teaches courses like Introduction to Ozarks Studies and chairs the minor in Ozarks Studies.

Professional activities include editorial roles for the Arkansas Historical Quarterly and Missouri Historical Review, along with radio segments on Ozark Highlands Radio. He has appeared in documentaries such as History of the Ozarks (C-SPAN, 2018) and contributed to media projects like Back Road Barns (AETN, 2016).