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Jeannie McFarland Johnson, Director of Marketing & Communications
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Professor Schulten has taught at the University of Denver for nearly thirty years, with a focus on undergraduate education. Among her favorite courses have been an introductory seminar exploring the influence of Abraham Lincoln and an advanced seminar examining American thought and culture. She regularly teaches classes on the Civil War and Reconstruction, War and the Presidency, and Nineteenth-Century America. She has proudly mentored dozens of senior research projects, many of which have explored themes in Colorado history that range from the achievement of statehood in 1876 to the influenza epidemic in Denver. Her courses attract a diverse range of students, from history majors to those simply curious about the past.

“Susan brings a wealth of knowledge about American history to the role of State Historian, which will enrich our commemorative efforts during the America 250 and Colorado 150 anniversaries in the year ahead,” said Jason Hanson, chief creative officer at History Colorado. “She has a brilliant knack for showing how Colorado’s story fits into larger historical moments, and how developments in the early history of the territory and state helped shape our nation. I am excited for her to share this knowledge and passion with the people of Colorado as the State Historian.”  

A distinguished scholar, Dr. Schulten has held various national fellowships and authored dozens of articles and five books, including A History of America in 100 Maps. In addition to her work on the State Historian's Council, Dr. Schulten served as an editor for History Colorado's critically acclaimed podcast series, "Lost Highways," and helped organize the Milestones in Colorado Legal History exhibit, a permanent installation in the Learning Center at the Ralph Carr Justice Building. She has given many lectures, talks, and workshops since arriving at DU in 1996, and has been particularly gratified to work with K-12 teachers and students in Colorado. She has also helped to develop exhibits at the Newberry Library, the Field Museum, the University of Denver, and Stanford University.  

“I'm looking forward to serving as the State Historian during the anniversaries of Colorado Statehood and American independence," said Dr. Schulten. "I am constantly learning from those around me, and hope to return the favor by sharing my interest in learning about the past through maps and visual artifacts. Old maps serve as unique and fascinating portals onto the past, showing us what people knew as well as what they thought they knew.” 

Dr. Schulten is particularly interested in placing Colorado history within a broader context and showing how leaders such as Abraham Lincoln made sense of the nation's founding principle as well as its contradictions. For example, she notes that the founding of the Colorado Territory in 1861 was the product of mineral rushes–which had devastating consequences for Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples–but also the crisis over slavery. Similarly, statehood arrived in 1876, on the eve of one of the most contentious presidential elections in the nation’s history. She has also drawn attention to Colorado’s leading role in extending suffrage rights to women, long before the Nineteenth Amendment.

Looking Back: A Grateful Send Off to Dr. Wei

After completing his term as State Historian, Dr. William Wei will continue his service as an emeritus member of the State Historian’s Council. He was a founding member of the council, which was established in 2018, and he has demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership within the organization. He is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on Asian American and Asian immigrant history in Colorado, which helped bring focus on immigration and the foundational concepts of our nation through exhibits such as Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects and Where Is Denver’s Chinatown?  

"Serving as the Colorado State Historian for 2024-2025 and as a member of the State Historian's Council has been both a privilege and an honor,” Dr. Wei stated. “The most rewarding aspect of my role has been collaborating with colleagues who are committed to promoting the study of history, both in general and specifically Colorado history, beyond our campuses. Together, we have witnessed that the Colorado community values history and the insights that historians offer.”

Among the highlights of Dr. Wei’s rotation as State Historian were the critical conversations on the role immigration played in the development of Colorado, and facilitating a broader look at our country’s foundational principles. In the coming year, he looks forward to staying active in local history projects through exhibits like Moments that Made Us for the America 250 - Colorado 150 Anniversary Celebration and pursuing further research on Asian Pacific American and Colorado history.

“Dr. Susan Schulten is an innovative scholar and wonderful person. She is a highly regarded expert on the history of maps and visual culture, showing legions of scholars and students the value of maps to serve as portals to the past and provide tangible insights into political and cultural changes that have shaped the United States,” said Dr. Wei. “She is the perfect person to serve as the State Historian during Colorado’s Sesquisemiquincentennial commemoration.”

Looking Ahead: Meet the Newest State Historian’s Council Member

With Dr. Wei’s rotation off of the State Historian Council, the group welcomes its newest member, Dr. Charles Nicholas Saenz. He is a professor of history and the assistant vice president of academic affairs at Adams State University. Dr. Saenz's areas of research include Spain, the Spanish Empire in North America, and Southern Colorado. He is also the co-editor of The Geology, Ecology, and Human History of the San Luis Valley. 

"I am enormously honored to join such a well-respected group of scholars and educators whose efforts to broaden the narrative of Colorado's history resonate with me personally," said Dr. Saenz. "As an adopted Southern Coloradan, I've come to appreciate the cultural and historical richness of the state along with its unique traditions and lifeways. In the San Luis Valley, there is great pride in recognizing the origins of our state along the banks of the Río Grande. I look forward to sharing this perspective with others and learning from individuals across the state about what Colorado means to them."

Dr. Saenz has served as an advisor for History Colorado's Borderlands of Southern Colorado initiative and has contributed to special exhibits such as De la Tierra: Reflections of Place in the Upper Río Grande and the newly opened Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante. Currently, he holds an appointment on the Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board and was the president of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area from 2015 to 2020.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 145-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado. 

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado