About

Dr. Mark Santow is Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, specializing in 20th century American urban history, politics, civil rights and social policy. He received his doctorate in American History from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. In addition to chairing the History Department at UMD 2011-24, he is on the faculty advisory board of the Black Studies and Urban Studies programs, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He was appointed by the mayor to three terms on the Providence, Rhode Island School Board, serving from 2015 to 2023. He is also the founder and Academic Director of the Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative, which has provided free arts and humanities classes for credit to RI and MA veterans since 2019. This award-winning program has become a national model for humanities engagement with veterans struggling with the challenges of readjustment to civilian life. From 2005 to 2019, he ran a Clemente Course in the Humanities in New Bedford, aimed at low-income adults.

Honors

Innovation in the Humanities Award
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (United States, Providence), 2020
Robert Darst Service Award
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (United States, North Dartmouth) - UMD, 05/2019
UMass-Dartmouth Chancellor’s Award Recognizing Excellence in Service (CARES
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (United States, North Dartmouth) - UMD, 05/2014
Balch Fellowship
Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Library Company (United States, Philadelphia), 2012
Service-Learning Faculty of the Year
Gonzaga University (United States, Spokane) - GU, 2003

Organizational Affiliations

Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Academic Director, Providence Clemente Veterans' Initiative

Past Affiliations

Assistant Professor, Gonzaga University (United States, Spokane) - GU

Visiting Assistant Professor, Fordham University (United States, New York)

Education

American History
2000, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (United States, Philadelphia)
American History
1992, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Massachusetts Amherst (United States, Amherst Center)
History and Philosophy
1989, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Vanderbilt University (United States, Nashville)