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Department of History
 Areas of specialty: Civil War and Reconstruction, African American history, Colonial America and the History of Sexuality
Education: Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin
M.A., State University of New York at Binghamton
B.A., Cornell College
My journey to Millsaps College began almost 20 years ago when I attended a small liberal arts college in Iowa for my undergraduate degree. I learned to appreciate the very unique and special relationship that can form between a professor and a student, as my advisor nurtured my passion for history and my other professors introduced me to a rich liberal arts world where I studied religion, physics and anthropology all at the same time. I knew then that I wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college, so when I interviewed at Millsaps, I was immediately hooked. The collegiality of the faculty, the bright and open-minded students, and the beautiful weather drew me and my future husband to Jackson six years ago.
What I cherish most about Millsaps is my time in the classroom; I have a rare opportunity to share what I love with students who are eager to learn. Whether it’s exploring how female gossip functioned to regulate social behavior in colonial Virginia or uncovering the many failed attempts to reconcile the sectional tensions between the North and the South before the Civil War, my students and I wrestle with the “tough stuff” that is American history—both the glory and the shame. But my teaching rarely stops at the classroom door. I enjoy having students in my office asking questions, wanting more information, or simply wanting to shoot the breeze. The relaxed, casual atmosphere at Millsaps promotes this kind of interaction without detracting from the academic rigor of our programs.
Finally, I appreciate the entire college community—faculty, staff, and students—who all seem to be working toward the same goal: providing the most fulfilling and rewarding educational experience possible for our students. And by rewarding I don’t mean getting the grades that will get the good job that will make lots of money. I think that Millsaps is infused with a spirit of service and meaning that you will find at few places. We want our students to find satisfaction in self-knowledge and in service to others. I know this may sound a bit trite, but I think the majority of our students work for more than a paycheck—they also work to make the world a better place. I’d like to think that I have a small part in nurturing that spirit, and quite simply, it’s why I’m here.
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