Biography
Ann Kordas earned a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2001, where she was an editor of Boston University’s Law Review, and a Ph.D. in History from Temple University in 2002, where she received the Conwell Fellowship and the Kramer Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies.
She is a social and cultural historian who focuses on issues of gender and race. Her special research interests include the history of childhood and adolescence, the history of popular culture, food history, history of occult belief, Cold War history, and gender history. She teaches classes in history, American government and ethics at Johnson & Wales University and ILS classes on Disease and Culture and The Supernatural.
She has presented papers at meetings of the Northeast Popular Culture Association, the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, the New England American Studies Association and the Popular Culture Association.
She has published on the uses of female gymnasts in Cold War propaganda, gender and the family bomb shelter, Roman Catholicism in 1930s vampire films, and the zombie in American popular culture. Her book, “The Politics of Childhood in Cold War America,” was published in 2011. She is at work on a new book called, “Violent Flirtations and Wedding Cake Dreams: Female Adolescent Sexual and Romantic Culture in the United States, 1850–1960.”
Education
PhD, Temple University
History
JD, Boston University School of Law
BA, Rhode Island College
Anthropology
BA, Rhode Island College
History
“Cold War Kids.” Kordas, A. (February 25, 2025)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-nuclear-life/id1545230902
Northeast Popular Culture Association
American Historical Association
Northeast Popular Culture Association
American Historical Association
American Historical Association
Northeast Popular and American Culture Association
Kordas, A. (December, 2023). World History. Volume I. Since 1500.. (Textbook).
OpenStax.
https://openstax.org/details/books/world-history-volume-1
Kordas, A. Chapter 17 – The Ottomans, the Mamluks, and the Ming: World History, Volume I. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax.
Kordas, A. (2022). Chapter 10 – Life and Labor in the Industrial World: World History, Volume II. (Book Chapter).
OPenStax.
Kordas, A. (2022). Chapter 14 – Cold War Conflicts: World History, Volume II. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax.
Kordas, A. Chapter 2 – Exchange in East Asia and the Indian Ocean: World History, Volume II. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax.
Kordas, A. (2022). Chapter 9 – Expansion in the Industrial Age: World History, Volume II. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax.
Kordas, A. (2022). World History, Volume II. Since 1400.. (Textbook).
OpenStax.
https://openstax.org/details/books/world-history-volume-2
Kordas, A. (2019). Female Adolescent Sexuality in the United States, 1850-1965. (Book).
Lexington Books.
Kordas, A. (2016). The Politics of Childhood in Cold War America. (Book).
Routledge.
Kordas, A. (2016). Chapter 1 – American Government and Civil Engagement: American Government. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax, 1st.
Kordas, A. (2016). Chapter 2 – The Constitution and Its Origins: American Government. (Book Chapter).
OpenStax.
The Changing Constitution Series, “Barnes v. Felix (excessive use of force by police under the 4th Amendment),” Humanities Department, JWU, Providence, RI. (November 19, 2025).
The Changing Constitution, “Mahmoud v. Taylor (Opt-out from LGBTQ+ inclusive textbooks under the Free Exercise Clause),” Humanities Department, JWU, Providence, RI. (October 8, 2025).
The Changing Constitution, “”Who Can Sue for Censorship of Social Media? Murthy v. Missouri”,” Humanities Department, JWU, Providence, RI, United States. (November 4, 2024).
NEPCA 2022 Virtual Conference, “Child Death in 19th Century America,” Northeast Popular Culture Association. (October 20, 2022).