Rick Warner named president of World History Association

Wabash College Professor of History Rick Warner is the new President of the World History Association.

Warner, who took office Jan. 1 after serving as vice president for the previous two years, now leads an organization that fosters the advance of scholarship and teaching within a trans-national, trans-regional, and trans-cultural perspective. Founded in 1982, the WHA currently has 800 active members.

“With the rise of the WHA in 1982, world history as a practice has changed radically, moving beyond a Western Civilization focus into new territory that is sometimes called the ‘New World History,’” said Warner, the Jane and Frederic M. Hadley Chair in History at Wabash. “While traditional historical scholarship has been set in archives and with a regional focus, world history

integrates regions and disciplines, with newly emerging research practices. In my two years, I hope that we can improve WHA support of research by graduate students as well as seasoned professors.”

A major figure in the world history movement, Warner is an expert in the field of early modern Latin American history, and food in world history. He is also a leader in the Advanced Placement World History program, now a respected question leader in various contexts, he also serves on the APWH test development committee for the College Board, and is active in the Midwest World History Association.