Patricia Limerick

Patricia Limerick is a Professor of History of the American West and Director of the Applied History Initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is a tenured faculty member known for bridging academic scholarship with public engagement. Since 1986, she co-founded and led the Center of the American West, producing influential publications and fostering dialogue on contentious Western issues. Her work emphasizes applying historical perspectives to contemporary challenges.

Limerick’s research focuses on the American West’s cultural, environmental, and policy dimensions. She has authored seminal works like *Atlas of the New West* and led projects on energy, mining, and conservation. Her leadership roles include presidencies of the Organization of American Historians, American Studies Association, and Western History Association.

Awarded the MacArthur Fellowship (1995–2000) and the University of Colorado’s Hazel Barnes Prize (2001), Limerick is also a sought-after public speaker and advisor to documentaries and Pulitzer Prize committees. She champions lively, accessible scholarship through films like *The Lover’s Guide to the West* and balanced policy reports for Western stakeholders.

• Affiliations: Applied History Initiative, Center of the American West
• Grants & Initiatives: Led $2M+ projects on energy policy and environmental remediation
• Public Engagement: Op-eds in Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and PBS collaborations