PHR Fellow Alumni

PHR Fellows | by year

Reflections from PHR Fellows and Interns

For me, working at the PHR lifted the veil on scholarly writing and publishing. It showed me that even the most accomplished historians sometimes construct poor sentences and misuse semicolons. The fellowship gave me a unique editorial skillset, which has been equally as useful in completing my Master’s thesis as it has in editing my friends’ seminar papers. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. 

— Taylor Rose

“I have gained a wide range of both academic knowledge and professional skills during my time as both an intern and editorial fellow at the Pacific Historical Review. As an intern, I was first introduced to the world of academic publications and acquired knowledge that informed my own graduate work. Learning to conduct developmental edits on scholarly articles helped me to better understand what my professors were looking for in my own papers. In my capacity as an editorial fellow at the PHR, I had opportunity to fine-tune the skills from  my internship at a professional level. Through my experience at the PHR I was empowered to succeed not only in my own graduate work, but also in my professional life—granting me an early advantage that can often be difficult  for students to attain. I am very appreciative of the Pacific Historical Review for these rare and valuable opportunities.”

— Heather Viets

“Having the chance to see the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to turn a submitted manuscript into a peer-reviewed article was an invaluable experience. Since my main focus was book reviews, I was introduced to several new fields, including environmental history, history of the U.S. West, and indigenous studies. Although my own research is in Russian history, having this background knowledge of American history and history of the Pacific more generally has been extremely useful. Since there are more U.S. historians than any other field in most history departments, having a familiarity with those fields is useful in thinking with other historians and fostering dialogue between f ields. I also benefited enormously from the guidance and mentorship of my amazing colleagues, who taught me all about copy-editing, and epistolary conventions, and patiently answered my many questions about U.S. history.”

— W. Forrest Holden

“History is collaborative. Facilitating the PHR’s book reviews put me in conversations with scholars I highly revered and expanded my understanding of the contours of the field. In my second year, managing the journal’s peer review process, I continued to work with scholars at the forefront of their specializations. I came to understand that these award winning essays were the product of great research, writing, and feedback from blind reviewers. I helped the journal transition to online submission, I also learned first hand the perils of automation and database management. I was fortunate to work under two distinct, capable editorial teams. Assisting with the journal’s production under Dr. Waldaver-Morgan and Dr. Frink was the most rewarding experience at the journal. Their training helped me with my own publications and my professional work. They helped remind me to involve other experts, to have many sets of eyes look at work, and always had an endless but warm supply of constructive criticism, support, and feedback.”  

— Dave Hedberg

“Coming from the English department, I was very grateful to get a chance to work for PHR. Before I began my fellowship at PHR, I found it difficult to ground the significance of my work with literary studies in reality. Now, I’ve realized that history is a great tool to further my arguments surrounding texts and provide significance or “real world” examples. Not only did PHR open me up to a more interdisciplinary approach to literary studies, it also taught me that academia doesn’t have to be scary. Even top professors will make mistakes in their book reviews and articles. PHR humanized academia, which then fostered a lot more confidence in me personally to go ahead and submit my work.” 

— Jessica Moore

“The editors at the Pacific Historical Review were patient and supportive mentors. My fellowship work helped make me familiar with the peer review and publication process; that experience was very useful when it came time to submit and publish my own article at another journal. I work as an archivist and do some copy editing on the side, so my current career path draws directly from my experiences with database management and editing at the PHR. David Johnson encouraged me to value and negotiate for my work, Susan Wladaver Morgan patiently answered my many questions, and Marc Rodriguez offered insight about navigating academic and other organizational cultures. My current opportunities are thanks in part to my time at the journal, and I’m grateful for the atmosphere of respect and encouragement that Susan, Carl, Brenda, David, Marc, and the other fellows fostered.” 

— Luke Sprunger

“Working for the PHR as both an intern and a fellow has greatly improved my writing in a variety of ways. Reading and editing the work of scholars at the top of their game improved my academic prose to be sure, but through online conversations with referees and authors I mastered the art of composing professional emails—a delicate and important skill. My time as an editorial fellow gave me the confidence to lead a course on the craft of scholarly editing, where I instructed on the inner-workings of the peer review process, developmental editing, and article management.” 

— Taylor Bailey

PHR Fellows | Bios and Accolades

Claudia C. Caminotti 
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow 2022-23
Claudia C. Caminotti is a M.A. student at PSU in the world history program. She studies U.S. economic history with a focus on banking and housing. Her research objective is to study U.S. federal programs and their impact on the racial segregation of American neighborhoods, the racial wealth gap, and the inequalities in the U.S. banking system.

Francheska Cannone
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow 2021-22
Francheska Cannone is a second year history graduate student at PSU in the public history program. She studies American legal history and U.S. political and cultural history with a focus on women’s history. Francheska is passionate about women’s fight to gain access to professional careers and more specifically about the Supreme Court and women in judicial work.

Allison Kirkpatrick
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow 2021-22
Allison Kirkpatrick is a senior at PSU majoring in history with a minor in medieval studies. She is interested primarily in women's, environmental, and labor history. Her undergraduate Honors thesis looks at public health and women's activism in the south Wales coalfield at the turn of the twentieth century. 

Ana Bane
John and LaRee Caughey Honors College Editorial Fellow 2022-2023
Honors College Fellow 2021-22
Ana is a fourth-year student at Portland State majoring in history with a minor in art history. Previously, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the PSU Honors College journal, Anthós. Ana is interested in U.S. cultural history as well as global environmental history. In the future she hopes to work as an educator in an art or history museum. 

Alexandra Ibarra
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow 2020-21
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow 2019-20
Alexandra Ibarra is a second-year graduate student in the Department of History at Portland State University currently completing her Master’s thesis for Summer 2021 graduation. She received a B.A. in history with a minor in anthropology from PSU in 2019 and is interested in Public and Chicanx history. She has two years of museum experience and in the spring of 2019, assisted with the archaeology roadshow in both Portland and Bend, Oregon.

Sarah Alderson
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow 2019-20
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow 2018-19
Sarah Alderson completed her B.A in 2018 and her M.A. in 2020, both at Portland State's Department of History. She works as an educational assistant at Forest Grove School district.

Alexandra Gritta
Honors Editorial Fellow 2019-20
Alexandra Gritta received her B.A. from Portland State in 2020. She has been selected for a Fulbright ETA Award in Morocco.

Sam Mertz
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow 2018-19
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow 2017-18
Sam Mertz teaches junior high and high school history at Trinity Academy in Portland, Oregon. He completed his M.A. in history at Portland State in 2019.

Rachel Done
Honors Editorial Fellow 2018-19
Rachel Done is pursuing a dual M.A. in publishing and technical writing at Portland State. She received an honors B.A. in art history from PSU in 2019.

Jordan Norquist
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow 2017-18
Jordan Norquist is a legal assistant for the State of Alaska Public Defenders' Office. She received her M.A. in history from Portland State University in 2019.

Taylor Bailey
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2016-17
Taylor is currently a doctoral student in the History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society Program (HASTS) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studies environmental history and the history of the United States. His dissertation project examines the history of wildlife restoration projects under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Act of 1937.

Heather Viets
John and LaRee Caughey Editorial Fellow, 2016-17
Heather Viets received her M.A. in history from Portland State University in 2018, and she completed a certification in Technical Writing in 2020. She has worked as a freelance writer and editor for several websites. Her long-term goals include returning to school to study Visual Arts and working with nonprofit organizations to support domestic violence survivors.

Taylor Rose
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2015-16
Taylor Rose completed his M.A. in history at PSU in 2016 and is currently a PhD candidate in history at Yale University. He is a recipient of the Fellowship in Aerospace History from NASA and the American Historical Association.

Jessica Moore
John and LaRee Caughey Honors Editorial Fellow, 2015-16
Jessica Moore is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law where she served as an Executive Editor for Oregon Law Review and a program assistant for the Public Law and Policy Program at UO. Previously, she worked as a law clerk at The Commons Law Center and as an intern in the University of Oregon's Office of the General Counsel.

David-Paul Hedberg
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2014-15
Book Reviews Editorial Fellow, 2013-14
Principal of Outdoor History Consulting and an instructor for the City of Portland, Parks & Recreation - Urban Forestry Division.

W. Forrest Holden
John and LaRee Caughey Honors Editorial Fellow, 2014-15
PhD candidate in history at the University of Michigan

Luke Sprunger
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2013-14
Book Reviews Editorial Fellow, 2012-13
Archivist at Multnomah Athletic Club
Published in Oregon Historical Quarterly

Will Thompson
PHR Editorial Fellow 2010-2011, 2011-2012
PhD, UC Santa Barbara. Lecturer at UCSB, specializing in religion and culture in Tudor-Stuart England

Kat Cleland
PHR Editorial Fellow 2011-2012

Chloe Massarello
PHR Editorial Fellow 2010-2011
Program Specialist, City of Portland Bureau of Development Services
Private Editorial Services and Historical Research

Jamie Anderson
PHR Editorial Fellow 2008-2009, 2009-2010
Philanthropic Services Coordinator, Oregon Community Foundation

Inga Nelson
PHR Editorial Fellow 2009-2010
J.D., Minnesota Law School. Senior Deputy Public Defender, Appellate Division for the Colorado State Public Defender

Marty Patail
PHR Editorial Fellow 2008-2009
Former Editor In Chief, Portland Monthly Magazine
Senior VP for Editorial Content and Strategy, Sagacity Media

James Hillegas
PHR Editorial Fellow 2006-2007, 2007-2008
Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration

Jennifer Stanford
PHR Editorial Fellow 2006-2007, 2007-2008

Brittany Ferry
PHR Editorial Fellow 2004-2005, 2005-2006
Faculty, High School 21+ diploma-completion program at Grays Harbor College

Melissa Johnson
PHR Editorial Fellow 2005-2006
University of Michigan PhD, 2019

Dane Bevan
PHR Editorial Fellow 2004-2005 
Director of Facilities and Campus Security, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Trudy Flores
PHR Editorial Fellow 2002-2003, 2003-2004
Executive Legal Assistant, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Josh Binus
PHR Editorial Fellow 2002-2003, 2003-2004
Policy Strategist & Industry Foresight Lead, Bonneville Power Administration

Sarah Griffith
PHR Editorial Fellow 2000-2001, 2001-2002
PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara. Associate Professor of History, Queens University of Charlotte

Aaron Ramsey
PHR Editorial Fellow 2001-2002
Teacher at Springwater Trail High School

Ashley Riley (Sousa)
PHR Editorial Fellow 2000-2001
PhD, Yale University. Associate Professor of History, Middle Tennessee State University

Cain Allen
PHR Editorial Fellow 1998-1999, 1999-2000
Entered Doctoral Program Geography, University of British Columbia

Daniela Senderowicz
PHR Editorial Fellow 1999-2000
Activist and writer, author at YES! Magazine

George Eigo
PHR Editorial Fellow 1998-1999
Author of “A Market for the City; The History of Portland's Public Markets,” written for the Historical Portland Public Market Foundation

Rachael Vorberg Rugh
PHR Editorial Fellow 1997-1998
Independent scholar and consultant, co-author of Building Co-operation: A Business History of the Co-operative Group, 1863-2013 (Oxford University Press, 2013)

Connie Barnes
PHR Editorial Fellow 1997-1998 

Julie Lay
PHR Editorial Fellow 1997-1998