© John Thelin and Figure/Ground Communication Dr. Thelin was interviewed by Angelo Letizia on March 25th, 2013
John Thelin is a University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky. His teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy. John likes to bring historical writing and research to contemporary discussions about significant, enduring higher education issues. His major book is A History of American Higher Education, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press – with a new second edition in November 2011. Its distinctive approach is to emphasize the history of colleges and universities — especially campus life — as part of American popular culture. His latest book, The Rising Costs of Higher Education, is just published this month – March 2013 – and combines the economics, history, sociology and public policies of higher education. In Spring 2004 John was selected by the UK Alumni Society to receive one of its “Great Teacher” Awards. He received the University Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006. In April 2007 the American Educational Research Association conferred on him the Exemplary Research Award for Division J: Postsecondary and Higher Education research. In November 2011 John received the “Outstanding Research Achievement Award” from the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).