Rachel Sturman

Rachel Sturman serves as Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at Bowdoin College, concurrently directing the Asian Studies Program from her office in Adams Hall. Her academic focus centers on modern South Asian historical studies with particular expertise in colonial and postcolonial Indian societal structures.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in History from University of California, Davis (2001)
• M.A. in History from University of California, Davis (1993)
• A.B. from University of Chicago (1991)

Sturman's research investigates the intersections of law, gender, and social formations in modern India, examining colonial property systems, women's rights frameworks, and contemporary urban infrastructure. Her scholarly trajectory extends to human rights history, development politics, and media/commodity cultures across both early modern and modern South Asian contexts.

Publication analysis reveals consistent scholarly evolution from 19th-century legal frameworks toward current urban studies, particularly evident in her Mumbai construction industry research. This progression demonstrates deepening engagement with material culture and spatial politics while maintaining core focus on social justice dimensions within South Asian historical narratives.

As Director of Asian Studies, Sturman shapes interdisciplinary academic programming while teaching courses spanning empire history, human rights, development politics, and technological cultures. Her active research agenda and administrative role indicate ongoing student mentorship in South Asian historical studies despite no specific advisee listings in available documentation.