JAY MECHLING graduated from Stetson with a B.A. in American Studies in 1967 and went on to earn his doctorate in American Civilization at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971. He taught American Studies at the University of California, Davis, from 1971 until his retirement in 2009.

 

Dr. Mechling taught regularly in the UCDavis Integrated Studies Program, an honors program for high-achieving first-year students. He was the recipient of the UCDavis Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Davis Prize, the highest honor on campus for distinguished research and teaching. He is the author of seven books and over one hundred forty scholarly articles and encyclopedia entries.

 

He owes his teaching and writing career to Stetson University Professor John Hague, his American Studies teacher, mentor, and founding faculty member of Stetson’s Honors Program.