D. Antonio Cantù

D. Antonio Cantù is Associate Dean and Director of the Department of Education, Counseling, and Leadership at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Dr. Cantù received his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern Illinois University, Ed.S. in Community College Education, M.A. in History, and B.S. in Social Science Education from Arkansas State University. He has also attended educational leadership institutes at the College of William & Mary and Yale University.

Prior to his appointment as Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Bradley University, he served as Professor and Dean of Education at Indiana University Kokomo, Professor of History and Director of Social Studies Education, as well as editor of the International Journal of Social Education, at Ball State University, and Social Studies Department Chair and Teacher at Ste. Genevieve (MO) High School. Prior to beginning his teaching career, Professor Cantù also served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army.

With nearly 30 years of experience in professional education, from high school through the graduate level, Professor Cantù’s articles have appeared in such publications as the Organization of American Historians’ Magazine of History, American Historical Association Perspectives, National Council for History Education History Matters, and the Journal of the Association for History and Computing. He is also the author of a number of books and curriculum monographs: Presidential Elections: 1789-1996, Early Education in Arkansas Delta, An Investigation of the Relationship Between Social Studies Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices, The Vietnam War: A National Dilemma, and Take Five Minutes: Reflective and Critical Thinking American History Class Openers.

In addition, Dr. Cantù’s most recent book publications include the following: The Art and Science of Elementary Social Studies Education, 2nd Edition (2015), ILTS: Test for Academic Proficiency (2013), History/Social Studies Education in the Digital and Standards-Based Classroom (2012), Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom (2011), The Art and Science of Elementary Social Studies Education (2010), History Education 101: The Past, Present, and Future of Teacher Preparation (2008), and Teaching History in the Digital Classroom (2003). He has also served as a curriculum writer for various national organizations including The History Channel, The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition and PBS Frontline, and as editor of The International Journal of Social Education. Professor Cantù also presented a TEDxTalk, "Memento Mori: The Personification of Death," at the University of Tulsa in 2018.

Dr. Cantù has also served in a variety of leadership positions in professional organizations, including service as President of the American Association for History and Computing, President of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies and Missouri Council for the Social Studies, and Chair of three National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Committees. In addition, he currently serves on a number of national governing boards and editorial boards; including as a member of the Governing Board of the National Social Science Association (NSSA), and House of Delegates for the National Council for the Social Studies. At the state level, Professor Cantù’s service includes as a member of the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board for the Illinois State Board of Education; Past-President of the Illinois Association for Teacher Education in Private Colleges (IATEPC); Communications Director for the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE); and Executive Director of the Illinois Council for the Social Studies (ICSS).