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

Charleen Kepner 
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow, 2023-25
Charleen Kepner graduated in 2025, Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in child, youth and family studies. Working with history scholars inspired her to write a historical reclamation thesis of a lesser-known Progressive Era early childhood advocate named Caroline Pratt. Charleen is currently working for Beaverton School District, supporting teachers and students across multiple kindergarten classrooms. Charleen is also a master trainer, conducting continuing education programming for early childhood providers.

Charles Dawn-William Huxley 
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow, 2023-25
Charles Dawn-William Huxley earned an M.A. in history from PSU in 2025.

Claudia C. Caminotti 
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow, 2022-23
Claudia C. Caminotti earned her M.A. in history from PSU in 2023. Her studies included U.S. economic history with a focus on banking and housing.

Ana Bane
John and LaRee Caughey Editorial Fellow, 2022-23
Honors College Editorial Fellow, 2021-22
Ana received their B.A. in history from PSU in 2023. They work as a library technician for Portland Community College and plan to pursue an M.A. in library and information science in the future. Previously, they worked as a research assistant for Outdoor History LLC and a fact checker for the Oregon Encyclopedia. 

Francheska Cannone
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow, 2021-22
Francheska Cannone Barnhart, an alumni of the PSU history graduate program and former fellow of the PHR, currently works in the mergers and acquisitions world as a researcher. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their daughter, and of course, their dog. Francheska continues to study and read history and enjoys staying up to date on new discussions in her fields of American legal history, U.S. political and cultural history, women’s history, and public history. 

Allison Kirkpatrick
John and LaRee Caughey Editorial Fellow, 2020-22
Allison Kirkpatrick graduated from PSU with a B.A. in history in 2022 and an M.A. in urban and regional planning in 2025. In 2022, she published an article in the Oregon Historical Quarterly on Portland’s early history of waste management. Her academic and professional interests include sustainability and environmental justice. 

Alexandra Ibarra
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow, 2020-21
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow, 2019-20
Alexandra Ibarra received her M.A. in history from PSU in 2021. Previously, she received a B.A. in history with a minor in anthropology from PSU in 2019 and focused on public and Chicanx history. At PSU, she gained multiple 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 history in 2018, and her M.A. in history in 2020. She completed her M.Ed. in education in 2025, with a focus on inclusive education. She is now a middle school special education teacher in the Beaverton School District.

Alexandra Gritta
Honors Editorial Fellow, 2019-20
Alexandra Gritta received her B.A. from PSU in 2020. She was then selected for a Fulbright ETA Award in Morocco, then went on to complete a M.A. in journalism at Harvard Extension School. She is now completing an M.A. in teaching English as a second language (TESOL) at Middlebury Institute of International Studies and plans to teach English to immigrants at the university level.

Sam Mertz
Caroline P. Stoel Fellow, 2018-19
John and LaRee Caughey Fellow, 2017-18
Sam Mertz teaches high school humanities at Trinity Academy in South Bend, Indiana. He completed his M.A. in history at PSU in 2019.

Rachel Done
Honors Editorial Fellow, 2018-19
Rachel Done earned a dual M.A. in publishing and technical writing at PSU. 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 criminal defense investigator with the Office of Public Advocacy in Anchorage, Alaska. She received her M.A. in history from PSU in 2019.

Taylor Bailey
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2016-17
Taylor is currently a doctoral candidate in the History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society (HASTS) Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Cain Curatorial Fellow at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia. His dissertation examines the origins of wildlife restoration in the United States.

Heather Viets
John and LaRee Caughey Editorial Fellow, 2016-17
Heather Viets received her M.A. in history from PSU in 2018, and she completed a certification in technical writing in 2020. She has worked as a freelance writer and editor for several websites. She is currently completing an M.A. in professional creative writing with plans to publish articles and books for 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 his Ph.D. at Yale University in 2024. He is now assistant professor of history at University of Alaska Southeast, where he teaches courses on U.S., world, and environmental history. His research and writing examine histories of infrastructure development, natural resource extraction, Indigenous land rights, and militarized landscapes in the North American West from Nevada to Oregon to Alaska.

Jessica Cherry
John and LaRee Caughey Honors Editorial Fellow, 2015-16
Jessica Cherry graduated from PSU with a B.A. in English in 2017. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2021. Jessica Cherry currently works as an estate planning attorney in Bend, Oregon. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation and volunteers as a mock trial judge with the Civics Learning Project.

David-Paul Hedberg
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2014-15
Book Reviews Editorial Fellow, 2013-14
David-Paul Hedberg is the principal of Outdoor History Consulting, a resident historian at Oregon Aviation Historical Society, and a filmmaker in residence at NW Documentary.

W. Forrest Holden
John and LaRee Caughey Honors Editorial Fellow, 2014-15
Forrest completed his Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan in 2025. His research is on magic, witchcraft, and ideas of rationality in eighteenth-century Russia. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Comparative Literature at University of Michigan.

Luke Sprunger
Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, 2013-14
Book Reviews Editorial Fellow, 2012-13
Luke Sprunger is a self-employed archival and historic preservation consultant. He has also worked for the Oregon Historical Quarterly and the Oregon Encyclopedia.

Marc J. Carpenter
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2012-13
Associate Professor of History, University of Jamestown 

Will Thompson
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2010-12
PhD, UC Santa Barbara. Lecturer at UCSB, specializing in religion and culture in Tudor-Stuart England

Kat Cleland
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2011-12

Chloe Massarello
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2010-11
Program Specialist, City of Portland Bureau of Development Services
Private Editorial Services and Historical Research

Jamie Anderson
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2008-10
Philanthropic Services Coordinator, Oregon Community Foundation

Inga Nelson
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2009-10
J.D., Minnesota Law School. Senior Deputy Public Defender, Appellate Division for the Colorado State Public Defender

Marty Patail
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2008-09
Former Editor In Chief, Portland Monthly Magazine
Senior VP for Editorial Content and Strategy, Sagacity Media

James Hillegas
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2006-08
Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration

Jennifer Stanford
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2006-08

Brittany Ferry
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2004-06
Faculty, High School 21+ diploma-completion program at Grays Harbor College

Melissa Johnson
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2005-06
University of Michigan Ph.D., 2019

Dane Bevan
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2004-05
Director of Facilities and Campus Security, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Trudy Flores
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2002-04
Executive Legal Assistant, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Josh Binus
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2002-04
Policy Strategist & Industry Foresight Lead, Bonneville Power Administration

Sarah Griffith
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2000-02
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara. Associate Professor of History, Queens University of Charlotte

Aaron Ramsey
PHR Editorial Fellow 2001-02
Teacher at Springwater Trail High School

Ashley Riley (Sousa)
PHR Editorial Fellow, 2000-01
Ph.D., Yale University. Associate Professor of History, Middle Tennessee State University

Cain Allen
PHR Editorial Fellow, 1998-2000
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, 1998-99
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, 1997-98
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, 1997-98 

Julie Lay
PHR Editorial Fellow, 1997-98