About

Connor S. Kenaston is an Assistant Professor of History at Randolph College. He is a historian of religion, politics, and culture in the United States, with a particular focus on how American Protestants have sought to shape public life in the twentieth century.

His current book project, “Spirit of Power: Radio, Religion, and the Sound of the American Century,” explores the religious history of the radio broadcasting in the United States. His article, “Step by Step: American Interracialism and the Origins of Talk-First Activism,” was published in Modern American History in 2022. His scholarship has also appeared in Hybrid Pedagogy, Methodist Review, Journal of American History, Yale Historical Review, Christian Century, and Reviews in Digital Humanities. His work has been supported by organizations including the American Historical Association, the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Society of Church History, and the Renate Voris Fellowship Foundation.

Connor is also a committed teacher. He has taught a wide range of courses in US and Atlantic history and culture and has a strong track record of transformative teaching. He earned his PhD in History from the University of Virginia in 2022. He also holds an M.A. in History with a graduate certificate in American Studies from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in History from Yale University.

Outside the classroom, Connor enjoys hiking with his wife, Maria, their little one, and their dog, Franklin. He also loves singing, going to the theatre, playing soccer and tennis, and cheering on Manchester United. In the summertime, he can often be found kayaking on the Greenbrier River back in his home state of West Virginia – or wishing he was there!

Connor S. Kenaston
ckenaston[at]randolphcollege.edu
@connorkenaston
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4999-7177