Hamilton Stapell

Hamilton Stapell is a Professor of History at SUNY New Paltz, specializing in 20th-century European history with a focus on Spain's post-Franco political and cultural evolution. He holds a Ph.D. from UC San Diego (2004) and a B.A. from University of Colorado, Boulder (1994). His research explores regional identity formation in Madrid, the physical culture movement in early 20th-century Europe, and evolutionary health studies. He currently chairs the Evolutionary Studies Board and serves as associate editor for the Journal of Evolution and Health.

Teaching interests include modern Europe, Latin America, and intellectual history. Courses range from medieval Spain to contemporary evolutionary health. He has received SUNY's top teaching awards, including the Chancellor’s Award (2021), and conducted research in Spain supported by SUNY grants. Previously taught at West Point and UC San Diego’s Revelle Humanities Program.

His major publications include *Remaking Madrid: Culture, Politics, and Identity after Franco* (2010) and peer-reviewed articles on topics like ancestral health movements, Americanization in Spain, and Madrid’s post-dictatorship cultural policy. Current projects investigate early 20th-century European physical culture movements and interdisciplinary applications of evolutionary theory in health education.