Mary Farmer-Kaiser

Mary Farmer-Kaiser is the Dean of the Graduate School and a Professor of History at UL Lafayette. She became a member of the UL Lafayette community in 2000.

She is an award-winning teacher, scholar who studies the history of freedom and citizenship, and leader in graduate education in and beyond Louisiana. Championing access and inclusion in education is a personal and professional priority for Dean Farmer-Kaiser.

She is a first-generation college student who benefited from the education, opportunity, and sense of belonging afforded to her by the faculty at public research universities like our own.

She also is a historian whose research is grounded in understanding the meaning of freedom and citizenship in our nation. What she knows to be true—personally and professionally—is that accessible, high-quality education is transformative to individuals, families, and communities. She is a graduate of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana Leadership Lafayette program (Class XXXIV) and she served as the Co-Captain for Leadership Lafayette Class XXXVI.

Doctor of Philosophy, History
Bowling Green State University

Master of Art, History
Clemson University

Bachelor of Arts, History
Kansas State University

• Council of Graduate Schools Board of Directors
• Conference of Southern Graduate Schools President
• Louisiana Council of Graduate Schools President, 2017-2019
• Leadership Lafayette Class XXXIV
• Leadership Lafayette Class XXXVI Co-Captain
• James D. Wilson/Board of Regents Support Fund Memorial Professorship in Southern Studies, 2006-2015
• Dr. Ray Authement Excellence in Teaching Award, 2009
• Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society National Councilor, 2008-2010, and Faculty Advisor Mentor, 2005-2013
• Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society Faculty Advisor Award, 2007
• Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellowship, Virginia Historical Association
• Edward and Xin-Zhu Chen Scholarship for Distinguished Teaching, Bowling Green State University
• Bernard Sternsher Outstanding Doctoral Teaching Fellow, Bowling Green State University
• Charles E. Shanklin Award for Research Excellence, Bowling Green State University
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, Bowling Green State University