We love bragging on our professors, in large part because of the influential role they play in our students’ collegiate careers, but also because of their work exploring societal issues.

History professor Eric Yellin, for instance, doesn’t just stay in Ryland Hall — he just received a grant from The Dirksen Congressional Center that will fund his research on Social Security at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., this summer. He will review congressional papers of the Special Committee on Aging for his project “Social Security: A Social History,” which will inform his next book. Here on campus, Yellin also teaches American studies and is serving as the interim associate dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.

“Congress has always been the home of Social Security and congressional representatives were the key links between Social Security and ordinary citizens after World War II,” said Yellin. “I aim to bring new insights into what it was like to grow old in America during the postwar era.”

Yellin has been teaching Spiders since 2007 and we know his students will benefit from his next project. Congratulations, Eric!