Dr. Travis Ricketts
Professor of History and Politics & Government
E-mail: travis.ricketts@bryan.edu
Office Phone: 423.775.7244
Box: 7615
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What a blessing to sense that you’re doing exactly what God has called you to do vocationally! I do believe that teaching is what takes place in the lives of students, and to help them to locate themselves historically and understand that historical decisions, much like theirs, do have consequences, is a real privilege.
I used to spend part of my summers grading AP history exams. After a couple of summers of increasing frustration due to what I perceived to be loaded questions being asked of students, the Lord brought a different summer opportunity that enables me to travel and experience historical sites, bringing a better understanding of American history back to the classroom. I take a 9’ x 12’ LED screen (www.visibledisplay.com) to major cultural and sporting events. Between events my family and I have been able to visit St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos (1605), Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and various museums in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.
When not traveling or teaching, most of my time is spent admiring my wife, harvesting my fruits and vegetables, or chasing my children (Stephen 14, Jonathan 12, and Madison 10) in their soccer, basketball, and fishing endeavors.
I used to spend part of my summers grading AP history exams. After a couple of summers of increasing frustration due to what I perceived to be loaded questions being asked of students, the Lord brought a different summer opportunity that enables me to travel and experience historical sites, bringing a better understanding of American history back to the classroom. I take a 9’ x 12’ LED screen (www.visibledisplay.com) to major cultural and sporting events. Between events my family and I have been able to visit St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos (1605), Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and various museums in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.
When not traveling or teaching, most of my time is spent admiring my wife, harvesting my fruits and vegetables, or chasing my children (Stephen 14, Jonathan 12, and Madison 10) in their soccer, basketball, and fishing endeavors.
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D. History, Kansas State University
- M.A. History, Kansas State University
- B.A. History, University of Arkansas
Professional Association
Conference on Faith and HistorySelected Publication
- "African American Troops." Article in Sandler, Stanley. ed., World War II in the Pacific: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publishing 2001
Professional Activities
- Served as AP Course auditor in Spring 2006 through the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) on behalf of the College Board.
- Served as a course document rater for the College Board Advanced Placement® Best Practices Course Study being conducted by the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) on behalf of the College Board, March 31-May 31, 2006.
- Served as a reviewer for the Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant program, March 27-31, 2006. Review process included reading submitted reviews, participating in teleconferences with panel, and providing feedback and scoring online.
- Served as a reviewer for the Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant program, July 18-22, 2005. Review process included reading submitted reviews, participating in teleconferences with panel, and providing feedback and scoring online.
- Participant at College Board Advance Placement Program, AP Reading, San Antonio, Texas, June 2-9, 2005.
- Participant at College Board Advance Placement Program, AP Reading, San Antonio, Texas, June 2-8, 2004.
- Served as a reviewer for the Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant program, April 2004. Review process included reading submitted reviews, participating in teleconferences with panel, and providing feedback and scoring online.
- Reviewed draft of Reyerson, Kathryn L. Jacques Coeur: Entrepreneur and King's Bursar. Library of World Biography Series. New York: A.B. Longman, 2005.
- Served as a reviewer for the Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant program, August 10-12, 2003 in Washington D.C. Review process included reading submitted reviews, participating in panel discussions, and providing feedback and scoring.
- Reviewed draft of Donaldson, Gary A., ed. American Foreign Policy: The Twentieth Century in Documents. New York: Longman, 2003.
- Reviewed (June 2002) portions of Encountering Western Civilization published by Longman Publishers.
- Reviewed (June 2002) portions of The Wider West published by Longman Publishers.
- Served as a reviewer for the Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant program, July 27-August 2, 2002 in Washington D.C. Review process included reading submitted reviews, participating in panel discussions, and providing feedback and scoring.
Topics of Expertise
- American military history
- Political history
- Religious history
