Sara Dant (2019)

Weber State University's Sara Dant is a renowned expert on environmental history, having authored the book "Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West," and co-authored the two-volume "Encyclopedia of American National Parks."

Dant has also published dozens of articles, book chapters and reviews, and has shared her expertise in environmental history with a variety of audiences at places including Weber State, national parks and professional conferences. She's also been able to use her expertise in the legal system, where the Utah Supreme Court recently upheld her testimony and expert witness report from a stream navigability case in the district court. 

Considered a preeminent environmental historian, Dant has also been invited to present a variety of scholarly and public presentations all across the United States. 

"I am profoundly honored to receive the John S. Hinckley Fellow Award, especially given the high-caliber faculty here at Weber State," Dant said. "And I am eternally grateful to the university for giving me the opportunity to do what I love and call it my 'job.'"

As a professor and chair of the Department of History, Dant has demonstrated exceptional qualities of leadership to both her colleagues and students in the 18 years since she joined Weber State.

In addition to her numerous speaking engagements and publications, Dant remains popular in the classroom, receiving student reviews lauding her energetic and engaging teaching style.

"Dr. Dant has performed with extraordinary and constant competence as a popular and effective teacher, and dynamic and nationally recognized  scholar, and as a willing and influential citizen of the campus and the community," wrote Gene Sessions, WSU history professor and 1991 Hinckley Fellow, in a letter of recommendation.