Censer named Vice President of the Southern Historical Association

by Kristin Leonato

Censer named Vice President of the Southern Historical Association
Jane Turner Censer, professor

At the November meeting of the Southern Historical Association (SHA), Jane Turner Censer begins two years as an officer of the organization, first as vice president, then in 2017-18 as president. Founded in 1934, the Southern Historical Association pursues a scholarly “rather than a memorial approach” to the history of the southern region of the United States and supports twin goals of research and public outreach.    

As one of the largest historical organizations in the United States, the SHA has over 5,000 members and publishes the highly-regarded Journal of Southern History, a quarterly publication housed at Rice University. The Southern Historical Association has several affiliates of its own. Censer has a special fondness for the Southern Association for Women Historians, which she feels is especially effective at promoting women’s and gender history and connecting graduate students with mentors of “kindred interests” in the discipline. Censer’s own scholarship has focused on family and women’s history with a broad interest in generational change from 1800 into the early twentieth century.

A long-time member of the organization, Censer says she is, “incredibly honored” to be chosen for this leadership role which recognizes “teaching excellence, scholarly achievement, professional stature” as well as service. As president, she will have the opportunity to give a presidential address related to issues in her field at the annual conference in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2018. She will also serve on the Executive Council as Past President in 2019 and 2020.

Congratulations, Professor Censer, on this well-earned honor!