Derek Larson

Place of Birth:

Federal Republic of Germany; raised in Oregon  

Educational information:

Ph.D. - Indiana University, 2001

MA - History, Indiana University, 1995

MA - Religion, Yale University Divinity School, 1993

BA - History and Religious Studies, Lewis and Clark College, 1990

Academic interests:

• 20th c. US, Environmental History
• American West
• popular culture
• interdisciplinary environmental studies (I hold a joint appointment in both History and Env. Studies, which I chair)

Story:

I came to CSB/SJU in 1998 while finishing my dissertation because they were searching for someone to teach 20th century US environmental history, which is my primary interest. I became chair of Environmental Studies in 2001 and have divided my time between the two departments since then. Prior to CSB/SJU I taught at Indiana University and Butler University. Before I started teaching I worked in archives (municipal and academic) and was a partner in a historic preservation consulting firm.  

Hobbies:

kids, travel, books, playing music, fishing, woodworking, cooking

Publications:

Monthly columnist for the St. Cloud Times; recently guest edited a conservation themed issue of Journal of the West.