Dr. Carolyn Johnston

Biography

Carolyn Johnston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Michigan State University. She specializes in European History, particularly Russian History from the 19th to the 20th century. Her research primarily focuses on working-class theater and pantomime during revolutionary periods, especially between 1830 and 1848. She is broadly trained in history with a particular emphasis on revolutionary movements in Paris. Johnston teaches courses in the History Department, specifically Modern European history, and is currently engaged in teaching IAH courses that explore the history of Paris. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is a historian involved in the MSU History Cisplatin/Carboplatin project, which aims to document oral history interviews with scientists and administrators who were directly involved in the discovery and development of the important chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and carboplatin in the 20th century. This historical project seeks to analyze archival material and understand significant moments in the history of cancer research and the development of technology transfer offices within universities. Furthermore, Johnston runs a regenerative agriculture sheep farm in Mid-Michigan, combining her historical expertise with practical agricultural work.

Research Interests