A nation of scrappy strivers, Americans have been bound since the colonial period by the American Dream, an abiding faith that hard work pays off because of the country’s distinctive equality of opportunity. Dr. Joel Rhodes, executive director of the State Historical Society of Missouri, explores this central feature of our shared identity, tracing how generations of restless and ambitious Americans have optimistically pursued economic and social mobility while navigating historical challenges and modern realities.
About the Presenter
Joel Rhodes joined SHSMO as executive director in 2025. He earned his PhD and MA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Rhodes is also Professor Emeritus at Southeast Missouri State University where he taught history and public history for twenty-four years and served as associate dean. Rhodes has written seven books including A Missouri Railroad Pioneer: The Life of Louis Houck and Growing Up in a Land Called Honalee: The Sixties in the Lives of American Children published by the University of Missouri Press. He serves, or has served, on multiple boards including the State Historical Records Advisory Board, Missouri Humanities, Missouri Preservation, and Missouri Association for Museums and Archives.