Professor Don DeBats
Adjunct Academic Status
College of Business, Government and Law
Don DeBats is Professor and Head of American Studies and Director of the Jeff Bleich Center for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance. His research interests cover contemporary and past US politics; he is a frequent commentator on current US politics and has written extensively on US political history.
His research appointments include the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Humanities Center of the United States, and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities at the University of Virginia. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary in the United States.
His degrees are from Michigan State University (Mathematics) and the University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA, History) and PhD (major field: American History; minor field: Political Science).
His current research, supported by the Collaborative Research Division of the US National Endowment for the Humanities, combines the contemporary interest in "the social logic of politics" with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methodologies to the study of past political engagement and networks, using unique individual level political records from 19th century America.
For the Jeff Bleich Centre he has written on cultural lag associated with the societal impact of rapid technological change.
- Ph.D. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1974 - American History. Thesis entitled “Elites and Masses: Political Structure, Communication and Behavior in Ante-Bellum Georgia.” Minor Field: Political Science.
- M.A. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1967 - American History.
- B.A. Michigan State University, 1965 - Mathematics.
Professional Employment:
2019+ Director, The Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, and Governance,
2012 – 2021 University of Virginia, Visiting Research Professor
2011 - 2014 Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Australian Defence College: Visiting Fellow
2009 - 2011 Flinders University, Interim Dean, School of International Studies;
1997+ Flinders University: Head of American Studies; Professor of American Studies; Professor of Politics.
2000 - 2001 College of William and Mary: Visiting Professor, Department of Government.
1989 - 1996 Flinders University: Head of American Studies, Reader in American Studies, Reader in Politics.
1988 - 1989 College of William and Mary: Visiting Professor, Department of Government.
2018 Award, American Political Science Association, Heinz Eulau Award for best article in the American Political Science Review, 2017 [with Matt Pietryka].
2018 Award, Political Networks Section, American Political Science Association, Political Ties Award for best published article on political networks in any journal, 2016-2018 [with Matt Pietryka].
2015–2016 Robert C. Vaughn Fellow, Virginia Humanities, the University of Virginia.
2016 Award, State Department, United States of America, Certificate of Appreciation.
2014 – 2017 Chair, Board of Directors of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission
2012 – 2016 Member, Board of Directors of the Australian-American Fulbright Commissionb
2012 – 2021 Fellow, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the University of Virginia. Research Fellow, the University of Virginia.
2012 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, Australian Federal Government, Department of Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
2010 Research Fellowship, Government of Canada.
2009 Fellow, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the University of Virginia.
2007 Flinders University, Award for Outstanding Contribution to the University.
2001 - 2002 Fellow, National Humanities Center of the United States, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
1997 Research Fellowship, Government of Canada.
1994 National Endowment for the Humanities, Publication Subvention for Washington County.
1991 Canadian Airlines Canadian Studies Research Award.
Nationally and Internationally Competitive Research Grants
United States National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Collaborative Research Division
2017-2021
2012-2016
Australian Research Council (ARC) Large Grants Scheme:
2011-2014
2004-2006
2000-2002
1995-1998
1992-1994
1989-1991
1986-1988
1983-1985
1980-1982
1977-1979
ARC Small Grant/Flinders University Grant:
2008-2010
2003
1999
Board Memberships
2019 + Director, The Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Goverance.
2012 + Academic Advisory Board, Carnegie Mellon University, Australia.
2014+ Chairman, Board of Directors, Australian-American Fulbright Commission
2012+ Co-Director, Centre for United States and Asia Policy Studies (CUSAPS)
2012+ Academic Advisory Board, Carnegie Mellon University Australia
2011+ Board of Directors, Australian-American Fulbright Commission
2011+ International Committee, Organisation of American Historians
- Canada
- History - American
- Politics
- United States of America
- Canadian Politics; Canadian Politics and Society
- Comparative Australian-Canadian-US Politics and Political History
- US Politics; US Political History; Politics and Society of the United States; US Foreign Policy; US Public Policy; US Elections
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