Acknowledgements

Writing this book has been a joy for me and there are many people who helped me by reading, editing, engaging in conversations along the way and/or offering moral support.

Thank you to the Office of the Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences for the sabbatical that provided me which gave me the tie and energy to write this book. I am extremely grateful to the University of Virginia Library for both the research sprint they awarded to me and the grant I received to write, complete, and publish this book as a UVA Pressbook. I could not have done it without them. Special thanks to Cecelia Parks who led my research sprint team and to Judy Thomas and Bethany Mickel for all their help and guidance with the writing and production of the book. The book cover was generated by ChatGPT in November 2024.

My time as both an Assistant Dean and an Associate Dean was filled with interactions with wonderful colleagues, too many too name here. People I could call or text 24/7 when there was a crisis, and we worked our way through many over the last 30+ years. They all made the job “do-able.”

I owe sincere thanks to several people for whom I worked over the years as they either hired me, promoted me, served as mentors and/or influenced my work at UVA in many ways. These people include Ed Ayers, Ian Baucom, Richard Handler, Mel Leffler, Phyllis Leffler, Maurie McInnis, Stephen Plog, and Gordon Stewart.

Many people contributed to the development of this book by offering comments, suggestions, and thoughtful feedback on various chapters, as well as providing invaluable support. I am especially grateful to Erin Eaker, Lisa Goff, and Kathy Van Ye for their insightful feedback on multiple chapters and their generous support.

I also appreciate the encouragement and enriching conversations from many others, including (in alphabetical order) Ian Baucom, Jane Boatner, Judy Chase Boothby, Theresa Carroll, Julie Caruccio, Laurie Casteen, Dudley Doane, Johanna Drucker, Tabitha Enoch, Mark Hadley, Sarah Elaine Hart, Archie Holmes, Johna Hutira, Shereen Lerner, Chief Timothy Longo, Robert Miller, Cathy Palombi, Frank Papovich, Carolyn Plog, Lisa Plog, Stephen Plog, Adam Richard, Karen Ryan, Lori Schuyler, Sandra Seidel, Kirt von Daacke, Anda Webb, Matt Weber, Pete Wentz, and Nicole Woods.

If I have inadvertently left anyone out, please accept my sincere apologies.

A special thanks to Lynsey Bates who I first met in August 2003 as an incoming first-year student. I was her non-major and major advisor and her thesis advisor. We then became friends, and even roommates for a bit, and she has been a lifesaver as the person who stepped up to help me edit this book and wrestle with Word Press. A million thanks for all of your help and support! My family, David Hantman, Rebecca Hantman, Julie Hantman, and Jeff Wagener, also read, commented, and/or offered up advice along the way and served as great cheerleaders.

Being able to bounce ideas off of all of these people and learn from them has been wonderful. Of course, any errors or misstatements are mine alone.