Dr. Donald C. Elder III

Professor of History
JWLA 105H
575.562.2601
Donald.Elder@enmu.edu

Dr. Donald C. Elder III has been at Eastern New Mexico University since 1995. Arriving as an assistant professor after teaching for six years at the University of Redlands, he was promoted to associate professor in 1997 and full professor in 2002.

Dr. Elder was born in Farmington, Minnesota, and grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa. He went to Northwestern University, and received a teaching certificate from the University of Northern Iowa. He taught high school and coached in Vinton, Iowa for nine years. Leaving teaching, he went to graduate school at the University of California, San Diego, where he received his Ph.D. While at ENMU, Dr. Elder has been quite active in a number of areas. He has received the Spirit of Eastern Award, and has been chosen Professor of the Year by three student organizations. He was also named Advisor of the Year by the university's Associated Student Activities Board. He has written three books and co-edited three others. He is also the radio broadcaster for all Eastern New Mexico University football, basketball, and baseball games, and is the co-host of a local radio show. He received the 2004 Sportscaster of the Year Award from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association. Finally, Dr. Elder served as the chair of his department from 2000 to 2005, and currently is the interim chair of the Communicative Arts and Sciences Department.

Dr. Elder is married to the former Janine Snyder from Carroll, Iowa, and has two sons. Cam received his Master's Degree in 2004 from Eastern New Mexico University. His younger son Brian is a History major at ENMU.