Zachary M. Schrag

Zachary M. Schrag is a Professor in the Department of History at George Mason University, specializing in U.S. History with a focus on urban history, history of technology, public policy, and research methods. He is the director of the Masters Program in History and has taught courses such as History of Aviation, Technology and Power, and Research Seminar in History Education. Schrag commutes to campus by bicycle and was recognized with the Rick Holt Active Transportation Advocate Award in 2022.

• AB, magna cum laude, Social Studies, Harvard University (1992)
• PhD, History, Columbia University (2002)

His research bridges urban development, technological systems, and policy-making, with a particular emphasis on the ethical implications of institutional review boards (IRBs) in social sciences. He also explores historical narratives and pedagogical strategies in historical research.

Recent publications span topics from transportation planning to research ethics. Key themes include the evolution of metropolitan transit, regulatory challenges in social sciences, and interdisciplinary teaching methodologies.

• Society for American City and Regional Planning History’s John Reps Prize
• Journal of Policy History’s Ellis Hawley Prize
• American Historical Association’s James Harvey Robinson Prize
• Rick Holt Active Transportation Advocate Award

Schrag has supervised dissertations on themes like urban redevelopment, border patrol antecedents, and aviation history. His work has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Gerald Ford Foundation, and Library of Congress.