Michael A. Lacombe

Michael A. Lacombe is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Adelphi University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He has been a dedicated faculty member since 2004, teaching a wide range of courses in early American history, colonial America, Native American history, and food in U.S. history. He is also the Academic Integrity Officer and co-chairs the Committee on Academic Integrity as of 2023.

• Ph.D., New York University (2006)
• B.A., Yale University (1992)

Professor LaCombe specializes in early American history, with a focus on the role of food, travel writing, and cultural interactions in the English Atlantic world before 1650. His research explores how commensality, status, and authority were negotiated in colonial settings, particularly through food and diplomatic practices. He has a strong interest in pedagogy, especially the use of Reacting to the Past role-playing games in historical education.

His recent research centers on Lusum, a fictional place imagined by Robert and Sarah Williams on Long Island, and on property formation in 17th-century Long Island. His publications span topics such as credibility in travel narratives, land deeds, and the political economy of food in the early Atlantic. The articles reflect a consistent interdisciplinary approach combining food studies, cultural history, and Atlantic world scholarship.

Professor LaCombe has presented his work internationally, including at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, Regensburg University, and the Huntington Library. His scholarly contributions are widely recognized through invited presentations at major institutions.

He is actively involved in university service, having chaired multiple committees including the General Education Committee’s Humanities subcommittee and the Senate Committee on Academic IT. He also served on assessment, curriculum, and search committees within the History Department. While no formal scientific awards are listed, his invited talks and sustained scholarly output indicate significant academic recognition.

Professor LaCombe is an engaged educator and scholar, contributing to both undergraduate education and the broader academic community through research, service, and public scholarship. He continues to mentor students through senior seminars and research methods courses, though specific advisees are not named in the text.