Maureen Connors Santelli

I am a historian of the early American republic, specializing in nineteenth-century diplomacy, reform, and the United States in the world.

I was born and raised in Montana. I attended the University of Montana in Missoula, earning undergraduate degrees in History and Classics. My combined interests in ancient Greece, Rome, and early American history inspired my research as a graduate student at George Mason University, where I completed my Master’s and PhD. I have completed fellowships at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Library Company of Philadelphia. I also have worked with the National Park Service as an interpreter and historian.

Currently, I am a full professor at Northern Virginia Community College where I teach United States, western civilization, and world history courses.  My recent book, The Greek Fire: American-Ottoman Relations and Democratic Fervor in the Age of Revolutions, examines the rise of philhellenism in the United States and how the movement influenced both foreign and domestic policies during the early American republic.