David Benac

Dr. David Benac is an Associate Professor of History at Western Michigan University, serving as Public History Coordinator and History Internship Supervisor. He specializes in environmental history, public history, and the cultural impacts of the timber industry. His research bridges environmental and public history, exploring community connections to landscapes and grassroots activism.

Education:

• Ph.D., History, University of Missouri, 2003
• M.A., Public History, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 1997
• B.A., History, Michigan State University, 1995

Research Interests:

• 20th-century American environmental movements
• Timber industry history in the Pacific Northwest
• Cultural landscapes and heritage preservation

His work examines how communities form cultural ties to environments and translate these into activism, with projects spanning museum studies, historic preservation, and heritage tourism.

Publications & Projects:

• Authored Conflict in the Ozarks (2010)
• Contributions to Oregon Historical Quarterly and Journal of Urban History
• National Register nominations and archaeological site reports

Teaching & Advising:

• Courses include American Environmental History, Museum Studies, and Historic Preservation
• Advises graduate students in public history and environmental studies