Directory

Ruth Adesanya graduated from the University of Warwick with a B.A. in History, where she mainly focused on the ‘Black Atlantic’, British imperialism, and Migration History. During her time as an undergraduate, Ruth also had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Outside her studies, Ruth enjoys drawing, painting and travelling to explore different countries and cultures.

From St. Louis, Missouri, Alex Bernier graduated from Mizzou with B.A.s in Political Science, History, and Constitutional Democracy, along with a minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies. His primary academic focus has been on the formation, development, and impact of government regimes, with a specific emphasis on the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of the American Northeast and its influence on the U.S. Constitution. Alex plans to attend law school after completing the M.A. program. Outside of academics, he spends his time hiking, biking, or playing ultimate frisbee with the Mizzou club team.

Erica Croft received a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Studies from Utah Valley University in 2021, graduating magna cum laude. As a Wood Research Assistant at UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies from 2019 to 2022, Erica contributed to the Quill Project, a digital history initiative which maps legislative and constitutional processes. In 2022, Erica presented her work on the digitization of the records of the United States Congress from 1862 to 1875, which emphasized the development of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Constitutional Amendments.

From Providence, RI, Mia graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Africana Studies. She spent time on the Student Advisory Council for the Africana Studies Department to help revamp the program and recruit others who may be interested in the major. She also held a position as the Vice President of Intellectual Development, and was a founding member of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, which re-established at URI in 2021. Additionally, her favorite shows are RuPaul’s Drag Race and Survivor, and being from New England, she also loves watching Celtics games. Go Celtics! Currently, Mia’s research is focused on the free Black society of New Orleans from 1763 to 1825. History and Geography have been her favorite subjects since she was young.

Jakob Gibson received his B.A. in Political Science from Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where he also completed various internships, op eds, and conference presentations on various ethical warfare topics. As a student in the M.A. program, he hopes to specialize in the study of ethical warfare and the War on Terror.

Grant Hopkins earned a B.S. in Philosophy from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2012. His undergraduate studies focused on ethical and political philosophy. Upon graduation, Grant commissioned in the United States Army as an active-duty Infantry officer. After fulfilling his service obligation, Grant returned to his hometown of Jefferson City, Missouri and applied to the University of Missouri School of Law. As a dual J.D./M.A. student and veteran, Grant is thankful for the opportunity to learn from his peers and instructors while also bringing his own unique experiences and perspectives to the classroom.

Alex Insley studied History at the University of Oxford and now joins the M.A. in Atlantic History and Politics as the Oxford fellow for 2023-2024. Having primarily worked on fields of British and European history over the past few years, he is interested in broadening the scope of his research interests through this programme. Among his many areas of historical interest, Alex is particularly keen to look further into the domestic impact of imperialism on culture and politics, and how that will broaden his understanding of contemporary political developments.

From St. Louis, Missouri, Claire Kelly graduated summa cum laude from the University of Dayton Honors Program in May of 2023 with dual majors in Political Science and International Studies, with a concentration in Peace and Global Security and a minor in Human Rights Studies. Claire will also begin law school at the University of Missouri in the fall.

Sean Kelly graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in May 2019, majoring in both Accounting and Economics. After a two-year stint as a public accountant, he came to the Kinder Institute as part of their dual-degree program, concurrently pursuing the M.A. in Atlantic History & Politics and a J.D., with a concentration in tax law. Sean has a keen interest in modern transatlantic political exchange and heterodox political economy. When he isn’t listening to a good podcast, he enjoys watching college football and hockey.

Lyn Lepsky graduated cum laude from Mizzou in the spring of 2022 with degrees in Constitutional Democracy and Political Science and a certificate in Multicultural Studies. During their undergraduate studies, they participated in the Kinder Institute Residential College, Kinder’s Society of Fellows, and Mizzou’s Honors College, while also working as a Residential Adviser and Peer Learning Assistant in Wolpers Hall. Lyn’s research interests include the U.S. Reconstruction Era, Abolitionist Feminism, Labor Rights, and the intersections between economic and political systems. Following the conclusion of the M.A., they plan to pursue their Ph.D. in American Studies.

Matthew Levine studied History and Politics at the University of Cambridge before embarking on the M.A. in Atlantic History and Politics at Mizzou. He is particularly interested in the history of American expansion, having written a dissertation on the Purchase of Alaska whilst at Cambridge under the guidance of Professor Nick Guyatt. He hopes to use the M.A. to further explore the connections between American and British empire-building in the long nineteenth century.

Originally from Salem, MO, Bailey Martin graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May of 2023 with her B.A. in History and Constitutional Democracy, along with minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and Black Studies. She is the 2023 recipient of the Kinder Institute’s Exceptional Undergraduate Award. While pursuing the M.A. in Atlantic History and Politics, Bailey will assist with educational programming for the Kinder Institute’s Democracy Lab for first-year students. Her academic interests include the politics of slavery in the British West Indies, gender and class dynamics in Atlantic slave societies, and public history. Bailey also serves as the Executive Director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, a student-led political advocacy organization tasked with representing the needs of the 65,000 students across the UM System to members of the Missouri General Assembly.

Sophia Myers graduated from Mizzou in the Spring of 2023 with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Constitutional Democracy. Throughout her time at MU, she engaged in many international programs internationally as she pursued knowledge regarding the interactions of communities abroad. Outside of her studies, Sophia enjoys traveling, meeting up for coffee, hiking, and serving the community through various non-profits in the area.

Originally from Kansas City, Sophy Silva graduated from Mizzou in May 2023 with a dual degree in Business Administration (Management) and Political Science, along with certificates in American Constitutional Democracy and Multicultural Studies. During her time as an undergraduate, Sophy worked with the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office as an Unclaimed Property Department intern and the Mizzou International Trade Center as a market research intern. She also served as a Student Ambassador for the College of Arts & Science, where she currently works as a Peer Mentor. After completing the M.A. program, Sophy plans on attending law school. Outside of her work and studies, Sophy enjoys cooking, fitness, attending concerts, and traveling.

Lillian Williams graduated from the University of Missouri in 2023 with a B.A. in History, with an emphasis in Public History, a B.A. in Constitutional Democracy, and a minor in Political Science. She joins the Atlantic History and Politics cohort as the 2023-2024 Santa Fe Trail M.A. Fellow. As an undergraduate, Williams received the Mizzou ‘39 Award, served as President of the Undergraduate History Club, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. In her free time, she enjoys studying local history, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors.

Blake Willoughby earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication at the University of Missouri in 2020, with a minor in Military Science. After he completed his undergraduate career, he commissioned as an Armor Officer for the U.S. Army, where he served as a Platoon Leader and Assistant Operations Officer. Once he completed his military service, he returned to Mizzou to pursue an M.A. in Atlantic History and Politics as well as a J.D. from Mizzou Law School. In his free time, Blake enjoys watching movies, writing, and biking.

Callie Woolfolk graduated from Mizzou in May of 2023 with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. She lives in Centralia, Missouri, where she is a wife to husband, Nathaniel, mother to Liam and Lily, and a military veteran, with a previous career of nearly twenty years as an intelligence analyst. When family life isn’t keeping her busy (and it usually is), she loves to read books of all kinds, draw and paint, have family movie nights, do all sorts of projects with her kids, including having a lot of adventures together. After completion of the M.A., Callie would love to continue on to law school.