Neil Larry Shumsky '66

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Neil Larry Shumsky '66, associate professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1972, Shumsky focused his scholarship on American urban, immigration and social history. He was author, editor or co-editor of seven books and more than 30 peer-viewed articles and book chapters, and he presented his research at many regional, national and international conferences.

Shumsky received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and conduct research at the University of Graz, Austria, and he served as a visiting lecturer at the Université de Provence in France. He also was the co-principal investigator for several grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, including grants that supported a summer minorities program hosted by the department of history.

In service to his profession, Shumsky served on the board of directors of the Urban History Association and was a member of the American Historical Association and Oral History Association Joint Committee on the Status of History. He was also a book review editor for H-Urban and a regular reviewer of manuscripts for publishers and grant proposals for funding agencies.

In the classroom, he taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses across the history curriculum. He advised many students on their master’s degree theses and doctoral dissertations. As the department’s director of graduate studies, he advised all incoming master’s degree students. Shumsky also served as vice president and president of the Faculty Senate.

Shumsky received his bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.