Wallace L. Daniel

Dr. Wallace L. Daniel serves as Distinguished University Professor of History in the Department of History at Mercer University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he joined in 2008 after previously serving as dean of Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences. His academic career bridges rigorous scholarship with transformative teaching in Russian and Soviet historical studies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History, University of North Carolina
• B.A. in Economics (with Honors), University of North Carolina
• Slavic Languages Institute, Indiana University (attended twice)

Dr. Daniel's research traverses Russian history from Catherine the Great's era to contemporary post-Soviet developments, with specialized focus on religious and intellectual history. His work critically examines the Russian Orthodox Church's resilience during Soviet persecution and its evolving relationship with civil society. As a passionate advocate for international education, he frames historical study as essential for cultivating cross-cultural empathy and leadership in global contexts.

His publication trajectory reveals deepening engagement with Orthodox spirituality under Soviet rule, culminating in biographical works on seminal figures like Father Aleksandr Men and analyses of underground religious movements. These studies consistently explore intersections between faith, state power, and intellectual resistance across Russian history.

Dr. Daniel actively teaches courses including Revolution and Religion: A Comparative View, Church and State in the Modern World, and History of the Soviet Union and Post-Soviet Russia. His professional commitment extends beyond academia to gardening, basketball, Russian literature, and time with grandchildren.