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Conference Staff

We are always looking for volunteers to help us plan and run the annual History Conference. Please contact us if you would like to contribute to our efforts!


Matthew Powell

MA student in Twentieth-Century U.S. History

Matthew is a second year MA student in Twentieth-Century U.S. history, with a focus on labor and environmental history. His current thesis project examines the history of Appalachian paper mills, and how paper companies shaped local environments to their benefit. This is his first year as Activities co-coordinator and running the conference.

Danny Brennan

PhD student in Nineteenth-Century U.S. and Public History

Danny is a second year PhD student in Nineteenth-Century U.S. and Public History. He is interested in learning about how Union soldiers and veterans comprehended the changing world around them and focuses particularly on chaplains after the Civil War. This is his first year as Activities co-coordinator and second year assisting with conference planning.

Ainsley McHugh

MA student in Public History

Ainsley is a first year masters student in the public history program. She is working towards her cultural resource management certification and has a research interest in 20th century Irish social history and Irish identity. This is her first year assisting with the HGSA conference.

Lauren Wingate

PhD student in Twentieth-Century U.S. Century

Lauren is a first year PhD student in Twentieth-Century U.S. and Public History. Her work focuses on labor and leisure history in the Southern Piedmont textile industry, especially in North Carolina. This is her first year assisting with conference planning.