Jeffrey Engel

Jeffery A. Engel is a distinguished historian, author, and academic, renowned for his expertise in American foreign policy and the modern presidency. He serves as the founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he has made significant contributions to the study of U.S. leadership and international relations.

His scholarship has earned him numerous accolades, including the SMU Faculty Member of the Year, the Honoring Our Professors' Excellence (HOPE) Award in 2019, and the Gerald J. Ford Research Fellowship. Engel is also a Ford Powell Global Order and Foreign Policy Fellow at SMU’s Tower Center for Political Studies, reflecting his influence in both academic and policy circles.

Engel’s academic career is marked by prestigious fellowships and teaching positions at some of the world’s leading institutions. He was a Visiting Professor at the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London, and has been a Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Nobel Institute. His previous roles include faculty positions at Texas A&M University, where he received multiple awards for teaching excellence, including the Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching and the Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award.

As an accomplished author, Engel has penned numerous books and articles that provide in-depth analysis of critical moments in American history. His works include “Impeachment: An American History,” a comprehensive exploration of the impeachment process through the cases of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton, and “When the World Seemed New: George H.W. Bush and the End of the Cold War,” which examines the 41st president’s role in navigating the United States through a transformative period in global politics. His scholarship has been recognized with awards such as the 2008 Paul Birdsall Prize in European Military and Strategic History for “Cold War at 30,000 Feet,” awarded by the American Historical Association.

Beyond his academic achievements, Engel is a respected voice in public discourse on American foreign policy and the presidency, frequently appearing on media outlets such as NPR, CNN, and The New York Times. He has contributed to bridging the gap between scholarly research and public understanding, making him a sought-after speaker and commentator. His work at the Center for Presidential History continues to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities of American leadership and its impact on global affairs.