The MSU History Department recently welcomed Dr. Richard Ivan Jobs, 1991 and 1993 MSU graduate, to campus on March 24 for a special presentation titled, “A Time of Turmoil: Youth, Travel, and Protest in 1968 Europe.” The presentation focused on Jobs’ research with youth travel and protest culture of 1968 Europe.

Jobs first became interested in studying the role of travel in postwar Europe as a means to fulfill his own travel desires. His research has allowed him to travel to archives and libraries all over Europe. Jobs’ initial curiosity of this topic was sparked as a student at MSU.

“In 1990 I participated in the KIIS (Kentucky Institute for International Studies) program in Bregenz, Austria , followed by backpacking around Europe for the remainder of the summer,” said Jobs. “Consequently, it was that summer between my junior and senior year that I decided to pursue a PhD in European history. I wanted to pursue a career that would enable me to use Europe as a workplace.”

A native of Murray, Jobs parents, Sid and Loretta Jobs, are co-owners of Century 21-Loretta Jobs Realtors in Murray. Loretta is a 1960 Murray State graduate.

Jobs received his PhD from Rutgers University in 2000. Since 2001, he has been teaching at Pacific University in Portland, and is an associate professor of history.

His book, Riding the New Wave: Youth and the Rejuvenation of France after the Second World War (Stanford University Press, 2007) has been well received. An article covering the subject of his presentation at MSU will be published this month in the most prestigious history journal in the United States, the American Historical Review.

Jobs’ current book project, “Backpack Ambassadors: Youth, Travel, and European Integration,” looks at the cultural phenomenon of youth travel in Europe in the postwar period and builds upon his earlier work.