Joshua Salzmann is an associate professor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. He teaches courses on the history of American cities, capitalism, the environment, and crime and violence. Salzmann has published articles about a range of topics including: the Chicago River, land fraud, and steroid use in sports. He is the author of the book Liquid Capital: Making the Chicago Waterfront published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. Liquid Capital shows how 19th century politicians and business leaders transformed a disease-infested bog on the shore of Lake Michigan into an intensely managed waterscape supporting the life and economy of Chicago. Salzmann earned his B.A. in history and literature from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has lived in the Windy City since 2001.