The military historian Carol Reardon has been named Penn State’s laureate for the 2015-2016 school year. The laureate position was created in 2008 by the university, and is essentially awarded to a full-time humanities or arts faculty member who brings a higher perspective of social and cultural awareness to the university.

Reardon is a highly respected Civil War and Vietnam era historian. “Carol Reardon’s scholarship and teaching on military history, Civil War strategy, and leadership have helped shape our nation’s understanding of military conflicts,” said President Eric Barron in a Penn State news article.

Before coming to Penn State, Reardon served as a visiting professor of history at U.S Military Academy at West Point. She also sat on the board of visitors of the Marine Corp University for nearly 14 years, during which she served one term as board chair. She’s also published multiple books and articles, including the award-winning “Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory.”

In addition to being a well-published historian, Reardon is a sought after speaker. She is a regular speaker at the Gettysburg Foundation, the Seminary Ridge Museum at Gettysburg, the Pennsylvania Military Museum at Boalsburg and the Smithsonian Institute. Her speeches have been broadcast on CSPAN, and she has provided commentary for several documentaries about the Civil War and the Military Academy at West Point.

Reardon says she plans to use her year as laureate to begin an open dialogue about war, peace, and remembrance. “As a military historian, I am interested in the causes, conduct, cost and consequences of wars as well as the lessons we learn or,  just as important, fail to learn from these transformational events,” said Reardon.

Carol Reardon succeeds this year’s laureate, associate theatre professor Susan Russell. Reardon was selected by President Barron, following a recommendation set forth by a selection committee.

Photo: Penn State