Dr. Steven Oatis
Associate Professor of History
B.A., University of Vermont
M.A., Emory University
Ph.D., Emory University
Office: 154 Walton Fine Arts Center
Phone: (479) 979-1350
E-Mail: soatis@ozarks.edu
Dr. Steve Oatis joined the Ozarks faculty in 1999 after completing his doctoral degree at Emory University. He says he was attracted to the Ozarks campus because of the school's small size. "It's a school with a personal touch -- small class sizes allow people to become more comfortable with each other. It's not easy to hide! And it shouldn't be -- students and teachers should have a right to expect certain things from each other." He decided to teach American history because it allowed him to continue learning about a subject he loved, and also gave him "the opportunity to be a positive influence on the lives of people who are at a critical stage in getting to know themselves better."
Dr. Oatis is a specialist in early American frontier history, but also enjoys teaching classes on colonial America, the Civil War, and the 20th-century U.S. Like any history teacher who loves his work, Dr. Oatis wants to emphasize to his students that history is more than names and dates. He says, "If done the right way, history builds the powers of reason and self-expression while teaching us more about what it means to be human beings." He hopes that by studying history as more than just memorized facts, students will develop a deeper appreciation of their debts and connections to the people who have come before them. He feels that history "becomes so much richer and more exciting when we take the time to realize that it has been made by people every bit as real and imperfect as we are." After several semesters at Ozarks, Dr. Oatis says his students have taught him a lot in return, most importantly, the value of "constructive criticism." "Everyone needs someone else's guidance, assistance, and perspective to help him bring out the best in himself."
In his spare time, Dr. Oatis enjoys reading -- he recommends The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry as excellent choices. He also finds time to go fishing and sightseeing, and enjoys watching baseball and relaxing with his wife Amy and their three cats. Where does he find the inspiration for his busy schedule? "The look on people's faces when they suddenly understand something -- 'I get it!"
