Peter H. Hansen

Peter H. Hansen is Professor of History and Director of International and Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he has taught since 1992. He holds a BA from Carleton College (1984), an MA (1986) and PhD (1991) from Harvard University. His research explores the cultural history of mountaineering, modernity, and global encounters, with a focus on Everest's symbolism in colonial and post-colonial contexts.

Research interests center on interdisciplinary global studies, including:

• Mountaineering as cultural practice and historical metaphor
• Colonial legacies in exploration narratives
• Transnational flows of people, ideas, and equipment
• Environmental history of extreme landscapes
• Project-based pedagogy in global education

Publications since 2015 predominantly analyze Everest's 'many worlds' through lenses of race, gender, and material culture, reflecting a shift toward decolonizing mountaineering historiography. Recent works increasingly engage digital humanities and public history.

Awards and honors include:

• Fulbright Scholar (2017)
• Walter D. Love Prize (2001)
• Royal Historical Society Fellowship (1997)
• NEH Fellowship (1995-1996)

He directs WPI's Copenhagen Project Center and has advised over 50 student projects across 9 countries. Current initiatives include redefining faculty promotion criteria and enhancing institutional belonging through WPI's Project Inclusion.