Title: Professor of History
Company: Louisiana State University Shreveport
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Gary D. Joiner, PhD, Professor of History at Louisiana State University Shreveport, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in History.
Dr. Joiner has established a distinguished career as a historian, author and cartographer, earning recognition for his expertise in military history, the U.S. Civil War and U.S. military history. Since 2014, he has served as a professor of history at Louisiana State University (LSU), Shreveport, where he teaches one to two classes daily to first-year students, graduate students and seniors. In this capacity, Dr. Joiner leads major civil rights research projects with graduate students, focusing on innovative approaches to historical inquiry and documentation.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Joiner has served as the chair of the department of history and social sciences on campus since 2014. In this leadership role, he has overseen academic programming and faculty development while fostering a collaborative environment for scholarly research.
Acquired by LSU, Shreveport, in 2004, Dr. Joiner initially taught as an assistant professor of history, marking the beginning of his impactful journey at the university. In 2009, he was promoted to associate professor, a position he held until 2014, when he was named a full professor.
Apart from his academic work, Dr. Joiner conducts legal consulting work, which includes navigating complex cases, performing spatial analysis and handling copyright matters involving maps. His role as an expert witness has seen him provide testimony in high-profile cases, including those before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dr. Joiner’s academic foundation is rooted in rigorous scholarship and mentorship. He began by acquiring a Bachelor of Arts in history and geography from Louisiana Tech University in 1973. He then studied at St. Martin’s College, part of Lancaster University in the U.K., earning a Master of Arts in History in 1975 and a Doctor of Philosophy in History in 2004.
Throughout his career, Dr. Joiner has demonstrated a profound dedication to advancing historical scholarship and education. He serves as the president of Friends of the Mansfield Battlefields of War Park and is a board member for the Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society in Shreveport. These roles underscore his commitment to preserving historical sites and promoting public awareness of regional heritage. Dr. Joiner’s civic engagement extends to historic preservation and environmental stewardship. He serves as the head of both the Shreveport Historic Preservation Commission and the Shreveport Historic Preservation Society, and is actively involved with Shreveport Green.
As a dedicated scholar, Dr. Joiner’s pursuits have spanned diverse eras, including significant research on Cold War defense issues as the leader of the Strategy Alternatives Consortium, which hosts the annual Triad conference on defense, nuclear policy and Global Strike Command topics. His ongoing civil rights project involves extensive oral history research with individuals who played pivotal roles in the movement, including Freedom Riders and close associates of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Moreover, as a prolific writer, Dr. Joiner has authored, co-authored and edited over 35 books that have made significant contributions to historical literature.
Dr. Joiner’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Albert Castell Award for “One Damn Blunder from Beginning to End” in 2004, the A.M. Pate Junior Award for “One Damn Blunder from Beginning to End” in 2005, and the Preservationist of the Year award from the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation in 2010. He attributes his success to the unwavering support of his parents and the guidance of exceptional mentors throughout his education and career. Dr. Joiner emphasizes the importance of mentorship in shaping scholars and takes pride in nurturing the next generation of historians.
Currently developing a system for researching and teaching publishing and civil rights, Dr. Joiner aims to establish a replicable model for communities across the South and nation, empowering them to document their histories scientifically rather than relying on anecdotal accounts. He also remains steadfast about making a meaningful impact through his research, teaching and community involvement, working closely with emerging scholars whom he believes will carry forward his legacy of rigorous inquiry and fearless pursuit of truth.
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