Department Spotlight

Meet Our New Faculty

The History Department occasionally showcases some of their faculty, staff, or teaching assistants. The department would like to recognize our newest faculty member:

Dr. Megan VanGorder

My name is Megan VanGorder and I’m so humbled and excited to be joining the incredible History faculty at ISU. I’ve considered myself a Redbird my entire life. I grew up in Normal, both of my parents are alumni and my dad worked in Institutional Research.

I graduated from the ISU History Ed program in 2010. I taught middle school at Olympia Middle School while beginning my graduate work in history. I completed my PhD at Northern Illinois and for the last three years, I’ve been teaching and leading the History Education program at Governors State University.

My current book project, A Mother’s Work: Mary Bickerdyke, Civil War Era Nurse, explores medical authority in the Civil War era and how one woman navigated the shifting world of work and cultural conceptions of motherhood in the nineteenth century United States. As a historian and teacher educator, I strongly believe that the past is most powerful when it connects us to the places and people around us. My education related research considers how teaching U.S. history through localized source materials has the potential to increase civic engagement.

I live in Normal with my husband (David) and my three sons. I like sports (and I don’t care who knows!), millennial coded pop culture references, and I can almost always be found drinking coffee or Coke Zero.

 

 

— Meet Our Graduate Students —

Erin Wilcox 

Erin is from Yorkville, Illinois, and her favorite period of history is the Cold War era in America, particularly its intersections with science and technology. Erin draws inspiration from historical figures like Abbie Hoffman. As a Graduate Assistant, she values the sense of community that comes from working alongside like-minded peers. Erin hopes to be pursuing her PhD in the next five years.She encourages students to embrace change and follow their passions: “Don't be afraid to let your interests change. Do things that you love, and you’ll end up where you need to be.” Her favorite place isn’t a specific location, but a feeling—good beer, good company, and good weather.

 

 

 

Jack Ramsden

Jack is from Wadsworth, Illinois, and his favorite period of history is19th-century United States history—a period he sees as pivotal in our country’s history that is exceedingly prevalent to current political and cultural discussions. His favorite historical figure is Frederick Douglass, whose powerful writing and extraordinary life continue to inspire Jack’s studies. As a Graduate Assistant, Jack values the opportunity to gain experience working with students and faculty, helping him prepare for a future career in academia. In five years, he hopes to be pursuing his PhD in history or working in a role that allows him to share his passion for history. His advice to fellow students: "Learn how to read effectively, learn what you like to read about, and read to learn about what you like. Read as much as you can, you will not regret it.” For Jack, Wadsworth will always be his favorite place in the world, because it it home and where his family and friends are.

 

 

 

Kylie Black 

Kylie is from Normal, Illinois, and focuses her research on Genocide Studies, particularly with nineteenth and twentieth century history. Her current work centers on Raphael Lemkin, the scholar who coined the term genocide in the 1940s. As a Graduate Assistant, Kylie enjoys revisiting her early years of college and remembering why she decided to pursue history in the first place. She enjoys revisiting introductory history courses and seeing the material from a new perspective, as well as engaging with students who are discovering their own excitement for the field. In five years, she hopes to be in the final years of a PhD program. Her advice to students: "Schedule your time carefully—not just giving yourself enough time to complete assignments, but also so you have time to relax and see friends and exist without thinking about due dates. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed and forget that life exists outside of Canvas and all of the work that needs to be done but having built in time to do something you enjoy or see your friends gives you something to look forward to on the hard days and a nice break." Kylie’s favorite place in the world is Italy, where she studied abroad and hopes to one day return to the lakeside towns that left a lasting impression.

 

 

Janet Odoso Okantah

Janet is from Mamfe Akuapem, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa. Her favorite period of history is post-colonial Ghanaian history, a reconstruction period of African history that led to the unearthing of most of Ghana's cultural artifacts. As a Graduate Assistant, Janet enjoys interacting with the students, which gives her insight into the American culture and allows her to connect and integrate with people. She also enjoys the opportunity to keep learning while balancing her academic responsibilities. In five years, she hopes to build on the meaningful relationships she’s formed at the university and work in a role that fosters cross-cultural understanding and applies her knowledge to real-world challenges. Her advice to students: "Try balancing school work with social life. Remember that academic work is a marathon, not a sprint (never give up). Time management is key to success. And take full advantage of the resources the school has to offer, especially the faculty members, because the school genuinely wants you to succeed." Janet’s favorite place in the world is her parents’ living room, where her family comes together to have a conversation, laugh, and share life stories. This is a space where they can agree to disagree, enjoy each other’s company, and feel at home. 

 

 

Wade Kirchner

Wade is from Washington, Illinois, a town just about 10 minutes east of Peoria. His favorite period in history is 1860 to 1920—The Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the Progressive Era are such crucial turning points for the United States and are fascinating periods to look at. Wade is doing work in the later part of that period, in the Progressive Era. His favorite historical figure is Abraham Lincoln, who he finds most fascinating— how he was able to balance being president, while running the Union war effort, while upholding the Constitution, and doing everything that he had to do and still being viewed as one of the greatest presidents ever is impressive and inspiring. As a Graduate Assistant, Wade values the strong sense of community among fellow students and faculty, enjoying the exchange of ideas and learning from others’ research. In the future, he hopes to pursue doctoral studies or a career in academia. His advice to students: "Learn how to manage your time. Do not put stuff off. Address it as soon as you can, otherwise you will get overwhelmed." Wade’s favorite place in the world is Chicago, a city full of great memories and energy he always enjoys returning to.