STAFF WRITER

Professor Micki McGee has been appointed as the chair of the American studies department. Starting in the fall 2013 semester, she will take over for Dr. Oneka LaBennett, who will take on a position as associate professor of Africana studies at Cornell University.

Professor McGee has been a part of the Fordham faculty since the fall semester of 2007, prior to which she worked as an assistant professor for New York University’s interdisciplinary master’s program in the humanities and social sciences.

She was also involved in the development of an exhibition at the New York Public Library.

For McGee, indoctrination into the field of American Studies was, as she put it, a “happy accident.”

“I would describe myself as an accidental Americanist,” said McGee. “My initial training as an undergraduate was in aesthetics and social theory.”

It was not until graduate school that her research for the Yaddo exhibition for the New York Public Library introduced McGee to the field for which her department is named.

“I began discovering, through reading archival materials at [the New York Public Library], how American Studies emerged as a field,” said McGee. “Many key figures in asserting a culture of national identity for the United States had been guests at Yaddo.”

About a year after starting work at Fordham, another professor, Glenn Hendler, approached McGee who asked her if she would like to cross-list her sociology courses as American studies.

Hendler then asked her to apply to be a member of the American Studies affiliated faculty. Both of these questions elicited a response of “sure thing” from McGee.

“I had noticed that the American studies students were some of the standouts in my courses, so working more closely with [them] was extremely appealing,” said McGee.

Even so, McGee said that she was not fully convinced that she was working in American studies until 2009, when the American Studies Association invited her to speak at its annual meeting.

Interestingly, it was not the invitation that would “seal the deal,” so to speak. Rather, it was the desire to attend each and every panel, talk and paper presentation that she found herself experiencing.

“Everywhere I turned, I found myself thinking ‘these are my people’ and ‘this is my tribe,’” said McGee.

As for the American studies department, McGee is very enthusiastic about its current state and projected path.

She attributes this positive outlook to the exceptional leadership of the previous three directors — Kirsten Swinth, Hendler and Oneka LaBennett — and the founder of the program, Fr. Mark Massa, S.J.

McGee considers herself fortunate to be stepping into the shoes of faculty members who have carefully developed an excellent program.

She will be able to acclimate herself as department director as well as meet the students and formulate new ideas without having any immediate problems to address.

Professor McGee also looks forward to working with the American studies students as they take part in the launch of the pilot program Digital American Studies, the goal of which is to accustom students to the digital aspect of the humanities and social sciences.

“I think that the American studies is my favorite part of my academic life at Fordham and it can only go up from here,” Emily Pandise, FCRH ’14, said. “We keep having great events and we’re bringing in great people to talk about really important issues in today’s world.”

Justin Henry, FCRH ’14, echoed similar sentiments.

“On the one hand, it’s really exciting to have another fresh perspective in the department,” Henry said. “This is the third department chair in three years. But I don’t feel connected to the program because I don’t have very close ties with my adviser or with any other faculty. I  hope that Professor McGee can give incoming students some sense of stability within the department.”