Photo:  Left: A panel presentation and discussion.  Right (l-r): Dr. Árpád von Klimó (Catholic University of America), Dr. Joshua Wright (Trinity Washington University), Dr. Kimberly Monroe (Trinity Washington University), Dr. Scott Perry (Executive Director of Phi Alpha Theta, University of South Florida). 

On Saturday 26 March 2022, the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center on the campus of The Catholic University of America hosted the annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for the study of history.  The conference was co-organized by Catholic University’s Department of History and the Department of History and Global Affairs at Trinity Washington University

In addition to the host institutions, ten regional colleges and universities attended the event: the University of Baltimore, Bowie State, Coppin State, George Washington University, Howard University, McDaniel College, St Mary’s College, Mount St Mary’s University, Virginia Military Institute and Washington College.

33 undergraduate and graduate students presented research papers on topics ranging from the Norman Kings of Sicily, to Early Modern Fashion and Witchcraft, to Vladimir Putin’s Information War. One of the foci of this year’s meeting was Social Justice: Many students had dedicated their research on topics from the African American history of the Virginia Military Institute and Right-Wing religious racism and anti-feminism to minority activism.

Among the highlights of the event were a talk about Emperor Nero and Fascism by Professor Scott Perry (University of South Florida, and Executive Director of Phi Alpha Theta), and presentations of the Oral History Project “HerStory” at Trinity Washington University by Dr Joshua K. Wright and three undergraduate students.   

Awards for best presentations went to Laura Roa (Catholic University) for her paper, “German Schoolbook Maps, 1904-1937” in the non-U.S. history category, and Justin McCulloch (George Washington University) for his paper, “Dog Whistles and School Bells: The Religious Right and the Fight Against Black Power”, in the U.S. history category.