--- title: UMD Experts Available to Discuss America 250 date: 2026-06-05T13:30:00-04:00 author: Jordan Dunklee canonical_url: "https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news-releases/umd-experts-available-to-discuss-america-250" section: News Releases --- News Releases # UMD Experts Available to Discuss America 250 ![The Maryland and American flags flying over Reckord Armory](https://omc-system.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/umdrn/CherryBlossoms_ReckordArmory_03302026_SC_1079.jpg?w=1200&h=800&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1780680944&s=817162805bf339796300511370732006) Stephanie Cordle/University of Maryland June 05, 2026 ## Contacts Media Relations: America's 250th anniversary is one of the biggest stories of 2026 — and there's far more to it than fireworks and patriotic pageantry. University of Maryland faculty experts are available to help journalists dig into the history, culture, and movements that have shaped the nation across 250 years, from the revolutionary era to today. To contact any of the experts below, or for help finding an expert on a different subject, please reach out to . ## Experts by Topic American History by Century *18th Century: Early America and the Revolutionary War* **Richard Bell:** American history from 1750 to 1877, slavery **Holly Brewer:** Early American history, impact of democratic ideas across the early British empire --- *19th Century: Civil War, Reconstruction, Expansion and the Gilded Age* **Christopher Bonner:** African American history and the 19th-century United States **Michael Ross:** American constitutional history and the Civil War & Reconstruction eras **Madeline Hsu:** Immigration history --- *20th Century: The World Wars, Civil Rights Era, the Cold War* **Robert Chiles:** American history from the Gilded Age to WWII **Quincy Mills:** African American history, culture, political engagement and activism **Patrick Chung:** U.S. military history and the Cold War era **Robert Friedel:** History of American inventions and technology **Christian Ostermann:** Cold War international history Race and Identity in America **Quincy Mills:** African American history, culture, political engagement and activism **Christopher Bonner:** African American history and the 19th-century United States **Robert Levine:** American and African American literature, the work of Frederick Douglass **Stephanie Shonekan:** American and African American music culture **Madeline Hsu:** Immigration history **Antoine Banks:** American and African American politics and public opinion **Janelle Wong:** Asian American politics Arts, Literature and Culture **Robert Levine:** American and African American literature, the work of Frederick Douglass **Stephanie Shonekan:** American and African American music culture **Robert Chester:** American films and pop culture **Donald Linebaugh:** American historic preservation **David Wyatt:** Twentieth-century American literature **Barry Pearson:** Traditional American music Social Movements and Reform **Robyn Muncy:** American social and labor movements **Madeline Hsu:** Immigration history **Quincy Mills:** African American history, culture, political engagement and activism Government and Politics **Antoine Banks:** American and African American politics and public opinion **Breanna Gray:** U.S. Congress **David Karol:** parties, interest groups, political institutions and American political development, political institutions, parties and interest groups The Constitution and Democracy **Holly Brewer:** Early American history, impact of democratic ideas across the early British empire **Michael Ross:** American constitutional history and the Civil War & Reconstruction eras **Lena Morreale Scott:** Civic education **Tom Bettag:** Journalism’s role in American democracy **Tom Rosenstiel:** Intersection of media and politics **Sarah McGrew:** Civic education, social studies education **Campbell Scribner:** History of education, federal education policy, civic education, school choice ## About the University of Maryland The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit [umd.edu](http://umd.edu/)