Washington College Hosts Phi Alpha Theta History Conference, March 31

Chestertown, MD, March 28, 2007 — An array of historical topics will be explored when Washington College's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and the Department of History host the Phi Alpha Theta Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in William Smith Hall on Saturday, March 31. This year's conference marks the first time Washington College has hosted the event.

Phi Alpha Theta, the student-run National History Honor Society, sponsors regional and national conferences with presentations, informal discussions and a lecture series. In addition to having the opportunity to present thesis proposals annually at the regional meeting, students also submit writings for publication in The Historian, the organization's academic journal.

As this year's venue for Phi Alpha Theta's regional gathering, Washington College will play host to numerous participating institutions including the Catholic University of America, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Delaware State University, Georgetown University, Hood College, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary's University, Shepherd University, the United States Naval Academy, the University of Maryland-College Park and the University of Maryland University College.

Sessions will be held throughout the day and will include panels given by graduate as well as undergraduate students. Subject areas will include: the Colonial and Revolutionary Era, 20th Century Conflict Around the World, Perspectives on World War II and Its Aftermath, Perspectives on Female Gender Roles, Maryland During and After the Civil War, the Modern Far East, Ancient Rome, Women in the 19th and 20th Centuries, and many others.

Washington College students Samantha Blau, Gillian Bourassa, Brenna Bychowski, Karen Ferguson, Laura Powell, Brandon Righi and Brian Taylor "gave unselfishly of their time, energy and expertise in planning the conference," said Professor Janet Sorrentino, Washington College's coordinator for the event. She added that other regional schools' faculty members—especially Bud Burkhard, Sandra Horvath-Peterson and Rusty Monhollon—also were key in the planning and execution of the conference.