Scott W Berg

Scott W Berg

Scott W Berg

Professor

Publishing, nonfiction writing and literature, historical narrative, history, urban history

Scott W. Berg is an author, journalist, and professor of nonfiction writing. He has published three books of narrative history--Grand Avenues: The Story of Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the French Visionary Who Designed Washington, D.C., and 38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontier's End, and, most recently, The Burning of the World, about the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire. 
 
 
In 2013, 38 Nooses was named a Main Selection of the History Book Club and awarded the Library of Virginia Literary Award in nonfiction. In 2016 and 2017, Scott collaborated with producer Jonathan Prince (American Dreams) on a full treatment for an eight-episode miniseries of 38 Nooses, developing the project for executive producer Robert Redford, Sundance Productions, and MGM Studios. The project is currently being shopped to networks, and fingers are crossed.
 
Since 1994, Scott has taught nonfiction writing and research at Mason. His courses have included graduate- and undergraduate-level nonfiction literature and writing, literature pedagogy, professional and technical writing, science writing, and book production. Scott helped to found and acts as the editorial advisor for Stillhouse Press, a nonprofit small press staffed by GMU undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. He also serves as the internship coordinator for English majors and others interested in work experience related to writing, editing, publication, and related research. (To read through the department's internships link, please go to english.gmu.edu/internships.)
 
Since 1999, Scott has been a regular contributor of feature articles and reviews to the Washington Post, and he has frequently given book talks and readings at such venues as the Smithsonian Institution, the Boston Athenaeum, Politics & Prose Bookstore, the National Building Museum, the Virginia Historical Society, the U.S. Treasury Executive Institute, and many others. Radio interviews in support of Scott's writing have included National Public Radio, Bloomberg Radio (New York), WNYC Radio (New York), and WAMU Radio (Washington, D.C.), and he has been a featured speaker on television shows produced by PBS, the National Geographic Society, and Twin Cities Public Television.
 
Scott is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and studied at the University of Minnesota, Miami University of Ohio, and Mason. He lives with his wife, Cory, in Reston, Virginia. Their two sons, Carter and Elliot, play collegiate soccer for the University of Mary Washington.