Nancy C. Unger

Nancy C. Unger is an award-winning author and teacher who believes that the study of history is not only fun, but vital to understanding the present--and can be a powerful tool in solving today's problems. She is Professor of History at Santa Clara University. The New York Times said of her first book,the award-winning Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer, "La Follette leaps from its pages." Her op-eds, syndicated by the History News Service, have appeared in newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times, Maimi Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, and Kansas City Star. Her radio appearances include National Public Radio, Talking History, and AIR AMERICA and she has consulted with Bill Moyers for PBS. She is particularly proud of the cover image of her book "Beyond Nature's Housekeepers": it's her mother-in-law at age 16, at ranch camp in Arizona in 1946! In researching her latest book (Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer), she was surprised to find that La Follette was far more radical than her self-effacing demeanor suggested. Called "disgraceful to the white race," La Follette was fearless in her pursuit of equality, peace, and votes for women.