Skip to Main Content

American Studies Institute Day

Second Annual

American Studies Institute Day

“American Grounding: People and Place in America”

Sponsored by the Jack Miller Center, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, & the American Studies Graduate Program

University of Dallas
April 21—22, 2023
SB Hall
 

The American Studies Institute Day is a conference for the discussion of the teaching—especially at the K-12 level—of American literature, history, politics, and civics, bringing together academics, scholars, and other leading figures with local classical educators. What makes this conference is unique is that K-12 teachers ("Institute Fellows") serve as discussants for the papers presented.

Friday, April 21

5 p.m.: Keynote Address
Stephen Wolfe, "How Anglo-Protestant Contradictions Made and Unmade America"
Responses by Dr. Susan Hanssen, History Department, and Dr. John M. Peterson, Director of American Studies & Classical Education

Saturday, April 22

10 a.m. — 12 p.m.: Panel
American Grounding: People and Place in America
Papers by Samuel Postell, Casey Wheatland, Charles Connellan, and Ian Dagg
Discussants: Bradley Deitzen, Jonathan Rogers

1 p.m. — 3 p.m.: Roundtable
Discussion of Christian Nationalism
Possible participants: Stephen Wolfe, Susan Hanssen, John Peterson, Ian Dagg, Casey Wheatland, Charles Connellan, Samuel Postell, Bradley Deitzen, Jonathan Rogers, Audience

 Institute Fellows

A peculiar feature of this conference is that discussants for papers are K-12 teachers chosen from among the American Studies Institute Fellows.

This year's Fellows serving as discussants are:

  • Bradley Deitzen, Director of Moral & Civic Education, ResponsiveEd, Lewisville, TX. Former 5th Grade Teacher & Director of the Liberty and Learning Fellowship, Founders Classical Academy of Lewisville. BA Political Science, Hillsdale College; Master of Humanities w/ Concentration in Classical Education, University of Dallas (in progress).
  • Jonathan Rogers, History Teacher, Founders Classical Academy of Lewisville. BA History, University of Dallas.

Full Schedule

Friday, April 21
SB Hall, Multipurpose Room

  • 5 p.m.: Keynote Address: Stephen Wolfe, "How Anglo-Protestant
    Contradictions Made and Unmade America"
  • Responses by Dr. Susan Hanssen, History Department, and Dr. John M. Peterson, Director of American Studies & Classical Education

Saturday, April 22
SB Hall, Serafy Room

  • 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: American Grounding: People and Place in America
    • Samuel Postell, University of Dallas: "The Future Complexion of New England: The Promise of Marriage in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 'The May-Pole of Merry Mount'"; Discussant: Bradley Deitzen
    • Casey Wheatland, Texas State University: "On Manly Firmness: The Continental Army and the Declaration of Independence"; Discussant: Jonathan Rogers
    • Charlie Connellan, University of Dallas: "God, Man, and Autochthony in America"; Discussant: Bradley Deitzen
    • Ian Dagg, University of Dallas and Baylor University: "On the Development of the Criminalization of War Within Western Civilization"; Discussant: Jonathan Rogers
  • 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.: Roundtable Discussion on Christian Nationalism featuring Paper Presenters, Respondents, Discussants, and the Audience

Archive:
Institute Day 2022

Questions? Contact Dr. John M. Peterson, Graduate Director of American Studies, at jmpeterson@udallas.edu.