UMass Department of History

While researching Japanese imperialism, historian Garrett L. Washington discovered a gap: “in all of these studies, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of women.”

His new project, “Faith in the Realm,” centers on elite laywomen involved in Christian and Buddhist organizations. Although these women were not ordained, Washington emphasizes that his work looks “beyond these auxiliary, supportive roles to reveal how they were leading, acting, and expressing themselves in relation to Japanese imperialism.”

This research brings together his scholarship and role as the history department’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by creating more inclusive historical narratives.

Learn more about Garrett’s work at the link in our bio.

Three members of the history department community were recognized by the 2026 HFA Awards for their contributions to the department, research, and teaching. From education to public engagement to scholarship, all three awardees play essential roles in ensuring our students’ success and uplifting our department’s scholarship in the history field and beyond.

Congratulations to...
Daniel Gordon, College Outstanding Teacher Award
Jennifer Heuer, Dean’s Outstanding Fellow
Jess Johnson, HFA Outstanding Staff Award

UMass historian Heidi V. Scott has authored a new book, Mining Maps and Enlightenment in the Andes (Brill, 2026), on the relationship between maps, the underground, and colonial thought. In this book, Scott uses eighteenth century Andean mining maps to reveal colonial understandings of the subterranean and the Spanish American Enlightenment. She examines often overlooked maps from the colonial Andes to tell stories of mining sites in late colonial Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador.

Congratulations, Heidi!

historian Elizabeth Jacob was selected by the Center for Teaching and Learning as one of eight Lilly Fellows for Teaching Excellence for the 2026-27 year. Jacob and her cohort of fellows will develop new courses and activities and share their expertise with the UMass community.

Read more at the link in our bio.

Congratulations, Elizabeth Jacob!

On Friday, seven MA students crossed the Mullins Center stage to receive their Master of Arts in history. Six of those graduates, plus two PhD graduates from the Department of English completed a certificate in public history. We are so proud of all of you and your accomplishments!

MA Recipients:
Jillian Gochinski
Taylor Hayes
Laura McCullagh
Melina Olivas
Emma O’Neill-Dietel
Liliana Rodriguez
Nicholas Speranza

Public History Certificate Recipients:
Jillian Gochinski
Taylor Hayes
Stacie Klinowski
Laura McCullagh
Nicole O’Connell
Melina Olivas
Emma O’Neill-Dietel
Liliana Rodriguez

The list of 2026 award winners is here!

Congratulations to all of the award recipients, thesis-writers, and graduates on your dedicated work this academic year.

View the full list of undergraduate and graduate awards using the link in our bio.

Thanks to our generous donors, the history department offers numerous scholarships that support experiential learning, including student research and travel, language study, and internships. Awards also offset students’ costs, champion first-generation students and future teachers, and reward students’ academic and community efforts, including exceptional teaching and writing.

This summer you can stay cool at home while getting ahead on your GenEd requirements with the history department’s summer online classes!

In Daniel Gordon’s Western Thought Since 1600, students will learn about influential thinkers from history and understand how their ideas shaped modern revolutions, social movements, wars, and genocides.

HIST 101 will be offered during Summer U+ Session 2 and is open to all UMass students as well as the general public. Enrollment is now open on SPIRE!

Read more about this and other Summer U+ history courses using the link in our bio.

After years of intensive study and making important contributions to the field of history through original research and writing, two UMass history doctoral students have earned their PhDs!

Congratulations to Drs Cheryl Harned and Seth Kershner! Dr. Harned and Dr. Kershner are pictured here with history faculty Chris Appy and Marla Miller.

Did you know that there were over 500 languages spoken in North America prior to 1492? In Alice Nash’s course, Indigenous Peoples of North America, students will experience 500+ years of Indigenous history. With only six weeks to cover this material, the class emphasizes broad themes across time and space, using a few examples in-depth that illustrate continent-wide patterns and principles.

HIST 170 will be offered during Summer U+ Session 2 and is open to all UMass students as well as the general public. Enrollment is now open on SPIRE!

Read more about this and other Summer U+ history courses using the link in our bio.

historian of Late Antiquity Jason Moralee has published an updated edition of The Historians of Ancient Rome, a textbook tracing Roman history through ancient sources. He co-authored this fourth edition with UCLA professor emeritus Ronald Mellor and with UMass history undergraduate Anna Lessard as a research assistant.

Congratulations Jason and Anna!