My Story
I’m from a tiny town in the Pacific Northwest that had one bowling alley and one local library branch. My interest in history started early (and was perhaps related to my poor bowling skills). Eventually, it took me from the cloudy Northwest to North Carolina, where I obtained my Master’s and PhD in African history at UNC-Chapel Hill. My research broadly focuses on gender and missionary education, particularly how West African women and girls interacted with new colonial institutions throughout the nineteenth century. Most important to me are the stories that make up regional, local, and global histories, and elevating the narratives of those frequently omitted from mainstream historical research. This research has allowed me to travel widely, meet new friends and colleagues, and deepen my engagement with a discipline that is near and dear to me. When I am not writing or teaching, I play roller derby and collect vinyl.
Kaela E. ThuneySo much of learning is about community: about talking ideas through, learning from each other, and moving beyond our own perceptions to better understand the whole. The classroom is a community, and through building it up, we learn and grow.
Education
- B.A. in History, Western Washington University
- M.A. in History, UNC Chapel Hill
- Ph.D. in History, UNC Chapel Hill
Courses Taught
- HIS 1220: European History 1815 to the Present
- HIS 2340: African American Experience to 1877
- HIS 3340: Topics in African American History