معرفی
Susan Grayzel is a Professor in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies at Utahah State University, within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She specializes in modern European history, with a focus on gender, cultural responses to war, and the social impact of total war. Her research and teaching explore the intersections of gender, citizenship, and wartime experience, particularly in Britain during the 20th century.
Educational Background:
- PhD in History (Late Modern Europe), University of California at Berkeley, 1994
- MA in History (Late Modern Europe), University of California at Berkeley, 1989
- BA in History & Literature, Harvard University, 1986
Her research interests center on the cultural history of war, particularly how gender, emotion, and material culture shape civilian experiences during conflict. She investigates topics such as civil defense, pregnancy in wartime, sexual violence, and the psychological impact of air raids. Her work often employs interdisciplinary methods, combining historical analysis with anthropology and public engagement.
The body of her recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly focus on the First and Second World Wars, especially the role of women, the evolution of civil defense, and the cultural meanings of war technologies. Her books frequently analyze how states and individuals negotiated fear, identity, and survival, using objects like gas masks as entry points into broader historical questions. The thematic continuity across her work underscores her commitment to understanding war beyond the battlefield, emphasizing home front experiences and gendered dimensions of conflict.
Scientific Awards:
- British Council Prize, North American Conference on British Studies (2000)
Susan Grayzel is actively involved in research mentoring and public scholarship. She co-directs the NEH-funded Bringing War Home Project with anthropologist Molly Cannon, which supports student-led collection of war-related objects and oral histories. This community-engaged learning initiative reflects her dedication to experiential education and the preservation of personal war narratives. She also serves on the faculty advisory board for the Heravi Peace Institute and will be an Honors Faculty Fellow in autumn 2025. While specific grant titles are not listed, her NEH funding highlights her success in securing competitive research support.
Labs and Research Teams:
She co-directs the Bringing War Home Project: Object Stories, Memory, and Modern War, a collaborative, interdisciplinary research initiative that engages students in collecting and interpreting material culture from armed conflicts. This project functions as a de facto research lab, integrating historical scholarship with anthropological methods and public history practices.
