Joseph Hodge

Joseph Hodge is a Professor of History at West Virginia University, specializing in British imperialism, post-colonial societies, and the history of development. He holds a Ph.D. from Queen’s University (1999), an M.A. from the University of Guelph (1993), and a B.A. from the University of Waterloo (1990).

His research focuses on the intersection of science, expertise, and colonial governance, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean. Major works include Triumph of the Expert (2007), examining British colonial development strategies, and a forthcoming book on postcolonial career trajectories of colonial experts. Current projects explore the transition from colonial to postcolonial international development frameworks.

Teaching areas include Modern Britain, British Imperialism, and Decolonization. He has advised numerous graduate students and contributed to key journals like Humanity and Journal of Modern European History. Courses taught span Western Civilization, British imperial history, and decolonization studies.

His work bridges environmental history, colonial policy analysis, and the global Cold War, emphasizing colonial legacies in modern development and environmental policies.