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A prominent scholar in Native American and colonial American history and a revered teacher, Jean O’Brien has made great strides to enhance the educational experience of her students.

O’Brien has created myriad opportunities. While chair of the Department of American Studies, she proactively recruited students of color, which resulted in the participation of 39 percent of underrepresented students. She has also created funding opportunities by working across disciplines, which has become a model for other departments in the College of Liberal Arts. O’Brien, along with three colleagues, created the American Indian Studies Consortium, a learning community for graduate students. The consortium’s annual workshop provides graduate students with the opportunity to meet prominent faculty in their fields.

A colleague describes O’Brien as “a bold thinker, a passionate advocate of undergraduate and graduate education, and a leader in efforts to promote the careers of American Indian students and scholars.”

Acclaimed as an outstanding teacher, O’Brien receives high marks for her respect and concern for her students. In graduate seminars, O’Brien guides her students through challenging material without making anyone feel excluded. A former student says, “I learned a tremendous amount, both in terms [of] content, but also about how to think and write as a historian.…I can honestly say the course changed my life.”