Laura Belmonte
استاد · U.S. Diplomatic History
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityمعرفی
Laura Belmonte is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and Professor of History at Virginia Tech, where she holds a faculty position in the Department of History. She previously served in multiple leadership roles at Oklahoma State University, including Head of the Department of History and Associate Dean for Personnel and Instruction.
Her educational background includes an A.B. in History and Political Science from the University of Georgia, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Virginia.
Belmonte's research centers on U.S. diplomatic history, transnational LGBTQ+ rights movements, Cold War propaganda, and American studies. She explores how cultural and ideological narratives shape international perceptions of American values. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary human rights advocacy, particularly in the realm of LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality.
Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in transnational and socially engaged history, focusing on U.S. global influence, human rights movements, and public history. She emphasizes accessible scholarship, as seen in her editorial leadership of the 'History in 15' series and co-authorship of textbooks.
- President of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR), 2021–2022
- Member, U.S. Department of State’s Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation (2009–2019)
Belmonte has advised and led numerous academic programs, including co-founding Gender and Women’s Studies and American Studies at OSU. She has secured leadership in professional societies and served on editorial boards such as Diplomatic History. Her administrative experience includes overseeing faculty personnel, curriculum, and academic policy at both departmental and college levels.
She is actively involved in public scholarship and advocacy, co-founding Freedom Oklahoma, a statewide LGBTQ rights organization, and contributing commentary to media outlets on issues of justice, governance, and historical memory.
