I am a candidate for a Ph.D. in American History from George Mason University where my academic 
interests include early colonial America and also American memory/museum studies (the study of what, how and why America remembers its past as well as what, how and why it forgets). My Ph.D. research focuses on the epidemiology of colonial America, specifically the examination of how smallpox inoculation stressed the social, political and economic fabric of Revolutionary America, as well as what challenges it posed to the Continental Army. I am a 2009 Mckinnon-Morton dissertation fellow.
In addition to being an adjunct professor of American History at NOVA, I work full-time for The George Washington University. Before moving to the Washington, D.C., area, I was assistant director of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, PA. I hold a BS in Business Administration from Albright College and an MA in American History from George Mason University. I have also completed post-graduate studies in American history at Villanova University, in Villanova, PA.
I grew up in a small country town in southeastern Pennsylvania where many historic sites were within a few minutes drive or walk. As you can see from the pictures below, I have an assortment of critters. Members of the current menagerie include Inga, a 13 year old Dalmatian rescued from a neglectful owner, Rufus, a 4 year old lab-mut rescued from -- what else -- a neglectful owner (see before pictures from Dawg-Rescue, Inc.), AnnaBelle, a 2 year old Dalmatian who is already on her way to stardom, having won Best of Breed, Best of Group and Best of Division in the Woodbridge Dog Club dog show, Natasha, a 1 year old Lilac Point Siamese (pictured with her BFF, AnneBelle) and a 13 year old cat, Jessabelle (not pictured).
I can be reached at Jweir@NVCC.edu
