Skip to main content

Headshot photo of Peter CoclanisPeter Coclanis

Director of the Global Research Institute
Albert R. Newsome Distinguished Professor of History

coclanis@unc.edu 
+1 919-843-8046
4116 FedEx Global Education Center
he/him 

 

Peter Coclanis is the founding director of the Global Research Institute (GRI). The GRI is an applied think thank with a mission to produce and disseminate knowledge on important global issues. Peter founded the GRI in 2010. Every few years, the GRI focuses on issues related to a different theme, such as the 2007-2008 financial crisis, global water issues, food and food security, and the future of capitalism. As a result, his work varies throughout the year, preparing for upcoming conferences or seminars, publishing scholarly work or presenting research to academics, public policy officials and community members. Peter also supports the vice provost for global affairs in developing and implementing strategy. 

In 1984, Peter accepted a faculty appointment at UNC-Chapel Hill and has served in the Department of History since coming to Carolina. He has held several administrative positions, including associate provost for international affairs, associate dean for general education and chair of the history department. He was named the Albert R. Newsome distinguished professor in 2003. Peter is interested in questions related to economic development in various parts of the world since the 17th century C.E. He has published widely in U.S. economic history, Southeast Asian economic history and global economic history, both in scholarly publications, as well as newspapers and magazines. 

Peter has been president of three international scholarly associations and is an elected fellow of the Society of American Historians and the Agricultural History Society. He has won fellowships, for example, from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Humanities Center, the Newberry Library, the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Philosophical Society, Harvard University’s Charles Warren Center (twice) and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. In the past, he has taught at Columbia University, Harvard University and the National University of Singapore. Peter lives with his family in Chapel Hill. 

Learn more about the Global Research Institute.

 

Hometown
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Education
B.A., History and Political Science, Drake University
M.A., History, Columbia University
M.Phil., History, Columbia University
Ph.D., History, Columbia University

Languages
French
Spanish 

Awards
State Service Recognition, 40 years, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2019, Gladys L. Baker Lifetime Achievement Award, Agricultural History Society
2005, Raffles Distinguished Professorship in Southeast Asian History, National University of Singapore
1992-1993, Hettleman Prize, UNC-Chapel Hill
1992-1993, Fulbright Fellowship, Southeast Asia Regional Research Grant
1984, Allan Nevins Prize, Society of American Historians