Assistant Professor of Global Studies
- Ph.D., History, University of Texas at Arlington;
- M.A., History, Texas A&M University - Commerce
- B.S., History, Texas A&M University - Commerce with particular expertise in empires, economies, migrations, and women's history in the Atlantic World in the early modern era.
What is your favorite thing about being a Cobra?
As a historian, I love that Coker University offers geographic access to the history of America and academic freedom for my students to explore the region’s vast history. Outings such as visiting Blackbeard’s ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, for students taking the piracy class, or the city leader’s willingness to share their knowledge as students work through contemporary issues related to Modern World History like the Sister City Program are some examples. The community of educators at Coker offers learning experiences via the interconnectedness between the Arts and Humanities that elevate the historical content and concepts covered in the classroom.
Research
In addition to teaching US and World histories, my research and publications address the role of women investors, manufacturers, and migrators who made their way to Panama for The Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies in the 1690s when Scottish merchants led an attempt to establish a colony for trade in the Atlantic. Some of these connections were particularly impactful to Charleston. I have presented my work with scholars in similar fields at Leiden University in the Netherlands, the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and history conferences in the United States. Future publications include “Emerging from Failure: Revealing Early Modern Women’s Relationships to Empire through the Darien Documents” in the edited collection, European Colonial Failures, c. 1560-1800: Early Modern Polities, Overseas Interests, and Empire Building to be published by Amsterdam University Press.