David Korostyshevsky is on leave, 2024-2025.

I am an interdisciplinary historian whose research addresses the formation of modern personhood. I am especially interested in understanding the biopolitics of concepts like habitual drunkenness., mental capacity, and risk, and how they shape personhood, wellness, and belonging.

My teaching is centered on making historical knowledge accessible and relevant to students, scholars, and the public. I harness the power of writing, self-reflection, and collaborative learning to move beyond the memorization of names, events, and dates. Instead, I show that history is an active study and interpretation of historical documents and scholarship. I am deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom by prioritizing underrepresented voices on the syllabus and assigning low-stakes and self-reflective writing so students can work with challenging new ideas without the fear of “getting it wrong.” I want students to leave my classroom with a greater appreciation for the complexity of historical analysis, sensitivity to silences and omissions in historical knowledge, and the ability to critically evaluate the reliability and significance of information. Ultimately, I strive to make historical knowledge accessible and relevant so that students become well-rounded, socially conscious citizens.

I was honored to receive the 2023-2024 Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts.

Courses Taught:

HIST 150 United States to 1876
HIST 201 Pandemics in U.S. History
HIST 344 Antebellum America
HIST 345 Civil War Era
HIST 380 Alcohol and Drugs in U.S. History (380A5)