Scott Sandage
Age: 41
Residence: Shadyside
Occupation: Associate professor of history at Carnegie Mellon University
Education: Bachelor's degree in German from University of Iowa, 1985; master's degree, 1992, and doctoral degree, 1995, both in American history, from Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Background: Cultural historian specializing in 19th century America; authored many articles and commentaries, as well as "Born Losers: A History of Failure in America," which won a prize for the best "first" book accepted in 2005 by Harvard University Press; teaches an undergraduate survey of American cultural history, a course on the rise of individualism and "The Roots of Rock & Roll," which explores the convergence of blues and country music; has been a consultant to the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives and the National Park Service.
Noteworthy: Winner of the 2005-06 Elliott Dunlap Smith Award for Teaching and Educational Service. The award is given annually by CMU to honor excellent undergraduate teaching.
Quote: "It's just nice to be at a research university where teaching is as important as it is at Carnegie Mellon. Some very large universities don't put much emphasis on teaching, and Carnegie Mellon is different in that respect."
