Michael Krenn

Dr. Michael Krenn serves as Professor in the Department of History within Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he specializes in U.S. Diplomatic History with concentrated focus on race, culture, and their interplay in shaping American foreign policy. His scholarship examines the critical connections between domestic social forces and international diplomacy, revealing how race relations have fundamentally influenced America's global engagements while foreign policy initiatives reciprocally impacted domestic landscapes.

Dr. Krenn earned his Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University, establishing the foundation for his career-long investigation into the racial dimensions of American diplomacy. His academic journey demonstrates consistent evolution from early 20th-century Latin American policy studies toward contemporary analyses of race in the Obama administration, always maintaining the core framework of domestic-international interconnections.

His research program centers on six key areas: U.S. Diplomatic History, Race and Foreign Relations, Cold War Diplomacy, African American History, Cultural Diplomacy, and Latin American Studies. Through meticulous archival work and interdisciplinary analysis, he demonstrates how racial dynamics permeated American diplomatic practice from the early republic through the post-9/11 era, particularly examining African American diplomats' roles, civil rights' impact on public diplomacy, and cultural representations in international exhibitions. His scholarship consistently argues that understanding race is essential to comprehending the totality of the American diplomatic experience.

Analysis of Dr. Krenn's publication record reveals three distinct phases: foundational 1990s work on Latin American policy and early Cold War diplomacy; 2000s scholarship exploring cultural dimensions through art and propaganda; and contemporary 2010s research addressing race in the Obama administration and post-9/11 diplomacy. This trajectory shows deepening engagement with racial analysis while maintaining chronological breadth, with recent works (2013-2016) demonstrating increased relevance to current debates about race in foreign policy.

Dr. Krenn's scholarly contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards:

• Donald W. Sink Outstanding Scholar Award (2013) - Appalachian State University's highest research honor
• I.G. Greer Distinguished Professorship in History (2005-2007) - Competitive title for exceptional faculty

Regarding mentorship and funding, Dr. Krenn currently collaborates with Flowstate Films as lead consultant for an NEH grant-funded documentary on African-American Cold War diplomats, creating potential student involvement opportunities. As a dedicated educator following the scholar-teacher model, he integrates research into courses like HIS 3822 (The Vietnam War) and HIS 3228 (The Gilded Age and Progressive Era), though specific student advising details aren't provided. His methodology emphasizes primary source analysis of diplomatic archives, media representations, and policy documents.

While no dedicated research laboratory is associated with Dr. Krenn, his work is centered in the Department of History where he contributes to academic programs through specialized courses and research supervision. His current documentary project represents an expansion into public history, bridging academic scholarship with broader audience engagement through film.