Dana Bennett, an ASU doctoral student in Public History, has worked in both the public and private sector of public policy and legislation in an 18-year career that has spanned interests as diverse as homebuilding and construction, insurance, gold mining, broadcasting, education, public lands, and natural resources. She recently worked with the Arizona Division of History and Archives, compiling oral histories of many of Arizona’s most prominent legislators.

Bennett’s published book A Century of Enthusiasm: Midas, Nevada, 1907-2007, a chronological overview of 100 years in a small mining town in northern Nevada, won her praise from Jon Porter, a U.S. Representative for Nevada who entered his comments in the U.S. Congressional Record.

A conference visit to the Tempe campus resulted in Bennett’s decision to attend ASU. “A bird whacked me in the head,” says Bennett with a laugh. “It deliberately dove at me out of a tree near the MU.” Between the serendipitous smack upside the head and the strong encouragement and assistance of Dr. Noel Stowe, she decided ASU was the place to finally achieve her goal of obtaining a PhD in history.

“When I arrived in Phoenix over a year ago, I wanted to learn more about the Arizona Legislature,” says Bennett, “and I was interested in someday working at a think tank of the quality of ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy.” During her first semester, she was assigned to work with Dr. Melanie Sturgeon, an ASU alumna and Arizona’s State Archivist, on the legislative oral history program. She was also offered a graduate assistantship as a policy analyst at the Morrison Institute.

At the end of the fall 2007 semester, she will join a team funded by Nevada to conduct oral histories of former legislators and produce a video to commemorate the 75th Nevada Legislature in 2009. While excited about the new opportunity, Bennett says she is sad to be leaving Morrison, where it has been a privilege to work. Bennett will commute between Arizona and Nevada while completing her Ph.D. at ASU.

Bennett received her undergraduate degree from Boise State University, graduating cum laude and with distinguished honors. Her master’s in women’s history was received from Binghamton University in New York. Her doctoral dissertation at ASU will focus on the women who were elected to the Nevada Legislature in the 1920’s.

“ASU’s graduate history program has been both challenging and enjoyable,” says Bennett. “I am lucky to be part of a smart and thoughtful cohort and thrilled to study with professors who really help me stretch intellectually.”

For more about Dana Bennett, read the Morrison Institute’s profile.

Dana has published two books about the history of Midas, Nevada: "Forward with Enthusiasm" and "A Century of Enthusiasm," as well as several articles related to Nevada history.