Michael Rembis

Michael Rembis is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. He also directs the Center for Disability Studies. His work focuses on 19th/20th century U.S. history, intellectual history, disability studies, and the history of medicine and eugenics. Rembis holds a PhD in History from the University of Arizona (2003), and prior degrees from the University of Illinois (M.S. 1996; B.A. 1994).

Research interests include institutionalization, mad people’s history, and eugenics. He has authored/edited major works such as Defining Deviance (2011), Disability Histories (2014), and The Oxford Handbook of Disability History (2018). Current projects include a book on writing mad lives in the asylum era and the Hidden Voices Project documenting NYC disability narratives.

Teaches courses on disability history, eugenics, and madness studies. Recognized as a UB Civic Engagement Research Fellow.