Deborah L. Kisatsky

Deborah L. Kisatsky serves as Associate Professor of History and Director of Peace Studies at Assumption University within the D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her faculty appointments span over two decades, beginning at the University of Connecticut before her tenure at Assumption since 2001.

Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in History from the University of Connecticut (2001), an M.A. in History (1993), and a B.A. in English/History magna cum laude (1990).

• Ph.D. History, University of Connecticut, 2001
• M.A. History, University of Connecticut, 1993
• B.A. English/History, University of Connecticut, 1990 (magna cum laude)

Dr. Kisatsky's research interrogates the intersections of U.S. foreign policy, Cold War dynamics, and pacifist movements, with particular emphasis on transnational peace activism. Her current book project on Adin Ballou examines 19th-century communitarianism through a global lens, while her monograph The United States and the European Right, 1945-1955 remains a seminal work on early Cold War diplomacy. Her scholarship consistently bridges diplomatic history with gender studies, as evidenced by collaborative work on globalization's gendered dimensions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a methodological evolution from traditional diplomatic history toward biographical studies of pacifist thinkers (Gandhi, Tolstoy, Ballou) and critical examinations of cultural dimensions in foreign policy. This trajectory reflects broader trends in the field toward interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate gender theory and transnational perspectives, particularly in Cold War historiography.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Bundeskanzler Scholarship (1998-99)
• Senior Leadership Academy Fellowship (2018-19)
• Multiple SHAFR research grants including the Stuart Bernath Dissertation Grant
• Instructional Technology Mini-Grant and Faculty Development Grants from Assumption College

Dr. Kisatsky actively contributes to academic infrastructure through manuscript reviews for the Journal of American History and New England Journal of History, while her grant-funded research has supported extensive archival work across Germany, Britain, France, and the United States. She mentors students through specialized courses including "American Pacifists" and "Pacifists in World History," and directs Assumption's Peace Studies program which integrates historical analysis with contemporary conflict resolution frameworks.