About

Introduction

Michael Ondaatje was born in Perth, Western Australia and was awarded his PhD (with Distinction) from the University of Western Australia (UWA). His thesis on the black conservative phenomenon in modern America was recognised at UWA with the Robert Street Prize for the best PhD across all disciplines in 2007. Also the winner of Excellence in Teaching Awards at UWA and the University of Newcastle, Michael has published work in the field of African American history and is currently writing a book about Barack Obama for UWA Press. His recent book Black Conservative Intellectuals in Modern America was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press (Penn Press) in 2009. Michael is also a regular commentator on American history and politics for ABC radio.

Qualifications

• 2007 PhD (with Distinction), History Discipline Group, University of Western Australia
• 2001 Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Western Australia, Double Major in History and Political Science, First Class Honours in History 

Research

Research Interests

Books and Monographs

2009  Black Conservative Intellectuals in Modern America. Penn Press; University of Pennsylvania

Obama at Work: The President's First Term, under contract to UWA Press.

Forthcoming [edited with Gregory D. Smithers] Black Thought in Modern America: An Historical Perspective, under contract to University Press of Mississippi.

Refereed Journal Articles

2006 ‘Francis Fukuyama’s After the Neocons: America at the Crossroads’, New Critic, Issue 3, 2006.

2004 ‘Counterfeit Heroes or Colour Blind Visionaries? : The Black Conservative Challenge to Affirmative Action in Modern America’ , The Australasian Journal of American Studies, Volume 23, No. 2, December 2004, pp. 31-50. Peter Coleman Prize.

Research Supervision

Current Postgraduate Research Supervision

• Troy Saxby, Pauli Murray: Feminist Civil Rights Activist
• Jeffrey Green, Officers’ recollection in the Army of the Potomac
• Emma Hamilton, Exploring Gender and History Through Western Film
• Jan Mcleod, Transformation, Technology and the Tropics. An Examination of the Papuan Campaign Through the Lens of the Field Ambulance

Teaching

Teaching Interests

Courses

Other

Appointments

2008–current Lecturer (Tenure-Track, Level B) in American History, The University of Newcastle, Australia
2007 Whitfeld Research Fellow (UWA)
2004–2006 Tutor/Lecturer (Level A) in American and Global History, University of Western Australia
2003 Teaching Intern, History, University of Western Australia

Awards and Prizes

Awards, Prizes & Fellowships

2009 Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle.
2008 Humanities Travelling Fellowship ($4,000), Australian Academy of the Humanities.
2008 New Staff Grant ($11,000), University of Newcastle
2008 School of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Grant ($5,000), University of Newcastle
2008 Nominated as Lecturer of High Regard (University of Newcastle). 
2007 Robert Street Prize (for the best PhD across all disciplines at UWA in 2007). ‘The prize is awarded to the student whose PhD thesis, of all those PhD theses passed with distinction in a designated 12-month period, has, in the opinion of the Board of the Graduate Research School, made the most outstanding contribution to its field.’
2007 Whitfeld Research Fellowship ($12,500), History Discipline Group, School of Humanities, University of Western Australia
2006 UWA Excellence in Teaching Award (Early Career)
2006 Peter Coleman Award (best article published by a postgraduate student in  the Australian Journal of American Studies over a two year period –  ‘Counterfeit Heroes or Colour-Blind Visionaries’ (see publications).
2006 UWA PhD Completion Scholarship ($7,500)
2003 UWA Teaching Internship
2002 Australian Postgraduate Award (for 3.5 years)                            
2002 Jean Rogerson Scholarship ($15,000)