Judy Kutulas

I was born and raised in California and did all my schooling there at large public universities, Berkeley for my B.A. and UCLA for my M.A. and Ph.D. Perhaps owing to my inability to settle into a major for a long time (I had five), I?ve always leaned toward interdisciplinary subjects and my dissertation, a social history of radical intellectuals in the 1930s, reflects that. At UCLA I not only prepared for my future career, but also met my husband, Michael Fitzgerald, when we shared an office (not to mention my pencils, lunches, and sweatshirt). I followed him to St. Olaf College when he got a job here and began teaching here myself in 1989.

At Olaf I am based in the History Department, where I teach recent US History courses and US Women?s History courses. My interdisciplinary tendencies, however, were encouraged by the college and have led me into Women?s Studies, American Studies, and Media Studies, where I am allowed to indulge my utter fascination for popular culture. I helped organize both the American Conversations Program and the Media Studies Program. I?ve published a book on radical intellectuals in the 1930s and am at work on another on the American Civil Liberties Union, but I also do work on gender and popular culture, including an article on situation comedy maternity stories and women?s music in the 1970s. Eventually I hope to do a book on the popular culture of the 1970s with a big yellow smiley face on the cover.

My husband and I live in Northfield at the foot of Old Main hill. We have two sons. When not teaching, I can be found doing research (i.e. watching TV, listening to music, reading magazines), running, or riding my bike.