Kerry Goldmann

Fields of Study

• 20^th century U.S.
• Cultural History
• Horror Film History
• Jewish American History and Culture
• African American History and Culture

(She/Her/Hers)

I am an historian of Jewish American history, African American history, American culture, and the history of horror films. My research investigates the intersecting histories of subaltern communities and art used for social change. My first book examined the sharp rise in black-owned theatre companies between 1960 and 1980. By examining these Black-owned theatres, which provided black-centric art, communal programs, and economic opportunity, it's clear that artistic institutionalization not only mirrored Black Nationalism, but was indeed the enduring, physical manifestation of the heart of the movement.

Though my research is fulfilling, my main passion for education compels me to work primarily in service of my students. I invest in my classrooms as spaces that foster student intellectual curiosity, learning empowerment, and a reverence for history. As an interdisciplinary student myself, I employ various methodologies in each class ranging from traditional historical approaches to viewing history through the lenses of popular culture and social performance. I ultimately prioritize accessible education and expansive relevance for students to broaden world views and critical eyes for historical investigation.

In addition to the courses I teach, I serve as the Associate Director of Graduate Studies for the History Department. I am deeply committed to preparing both undergraduate and graduate students for the vast landscape of professions that stem from the discipline of history.

Selected Publications

Books

Playhouse to Powerhouse: Locating Black Power Women and Their Movement in the Black Theatre. University of Arkansas Press (2025).

Journal Articles and Chapters

"Hamilton and Historical Memory: An American Musical Raises the Curtain on Historical Trauma and Decolonization of American Identity," in The Hamilton Phenomenon, edited by Chloe Northrop (Wilmington, DE: Vernon Press, 2022).

"The Keepers of the Culture at 3201 Adeline Street: Locating Black Power Theatre in Berkeley, California," in California History, Vol. 98, No. 1 February (Spring) 2021.

"The Transatlantic Stage: The Aesthetic Debate Surrounding Diaspora in Early Black Drama," in African and Diasporic Intersections: Politics, Economy and Societal Perspectives; Africa Conference Series (University of Texas Press) (2019).

"The Complexity of Teaching Play Analysis," in Texas Theatre Journal, XII, # 1 (January 2016).

Selected Awards

Provost's OLLI Faculty Award (2025)

J.H. Shelton Teaching Award (2024)

Robert Trennert and Peter Iverson Conference Scholarship Award from the Western History Association (2019)

University of Texas at Dallas Office of Graduate Education Dissertation Research Award (2019)

Charles Redd Center PCB-AHA Conference Award (2019)

Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate Studies award at the University of Texas, Dallas (2018)

Dr. Goldmann's C.V.

UNT Faculty Profile