Saunt named Regents’ Professor

Claudio Saunt, Distinguished Research Professor and Richard B. Russell Professor of American History in the Franklin College, is one of two University of Georgia professors  named Regents’ Professors, an honor bestowed by the board of regents on distinguished faculty whose scholarship or creative activity is recognized as innovative and pace-setting. Saunt joins John Drake, Distinguished Research Professor in the Odum School of Ecology, in the recognition of the national and international reach of their scholarship:

Saunt is widely recognized as one of nation’s foremost scholars of Native American history. He is a pioneer in the field of digital history and the author of four books that have been received with widespread acclaim, both within and beyond the scholarly community. In addition, he has published multiple award-winning articles in the leading journals in the field.

“Professor Saunt is, in my opinion, the most versatile American historian writing today,” noted Pekka Hämäläinen, Rhodes Professor of American History at the University of Oxford. “I would rank him among the five best American historians.”

Saunt’s most recent book, “Unworthy Republic: The Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to Indian Territory” (W.W. Norton, 2020), was a finalist for the National Book Award and is the winner of the Bancroft Prize in American History, the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award and the Ridenhour Prize. “Unworthy Republic” was also a New York Times critics’ top book of 2020 and a Washington Post top 10 book of 2020. His previous book, “West of the Revolution: An Uncommon History of 1776” (WW Norton, 2014), was shortlisted for the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature and earned the Harry M. Ward Prize for the best book on the American Revolution.

We could don't be more proud of Dr. Saunt, who is now serving as interim head of the department of history. The Regents' professorship is a fitting cap to his his recent, stellar run of recognition for the excellence of his scholarship in the myriad of the most important book awards in the world. Congratulations, Dr. Saunt!

Image: Claudio Saunt (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)