Lerner began his career as a history professor at Ohio State Newark in 2000, where he once directed the LeFevre Fellows honors program. He teaches popular history courses like The Sixties and Making America Modern and oversees students pursuing individual studies and undergraduate research theses.
Considered one of the nation’s leading experts on U.S.-Korea relations, Lerner has served as the director of Ohio State’s East Asian Studies Center since 2020. His first book, The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy, is an examination of America’s relationship with Korea during the Cold War. The book won the 2002 John Lyman Book Award, which honors outstanding works focused on naval history, and was also nominated for the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes.
In addition to his recent honor, Lerner has earned two Ohio State Newark Faculty Service Awards and two Distinguished Teaching Awards – one from Ohio State and one from the Ohio Academy of History.
“Dr. Lerner’s exemplary service demonstrates the best of our faculty and their commitment to promote increased understanding of our shared world,” said Matthew J. Smith, PhD, Ohio State Newark dean and director. “He is a true servant leader, doing the challenging work that moves the Newark campus, The Ohio State University and our world forward. It is an honor and privilege to work alongside him.”