Brian Donovan received his bachelor's degree in English and history from the University of Houston. He then earned a master's in history from Yale, and is currently working on his Ph.D. in history at The University of Iowa. Donovan is the Rights and Permissions Manager for the UI Press.

"The University of Iowa Press has a reputation as some of the hardest-working folks in the book biz, and their example of doing a whole lot with very little is inspiring," he said.

The focus of Donovan's research is the relationship between Civil War service (in the North) and prevailing notions of masculinity in the later 19th century.  Donovan examines connections between military service and manhood, and how young men are socialized into certain types of behavior. His research also considers the relationship of combat trauma, physical and mental, to notions of gender. Although his research focuses on the Civil War, relationships can be drawn between 19th century and 21st century notions of gender.