Greetings from the Chair

Miguel La Serna Chair, Department of History

Greetings from the Chair – Winter 2024

Dear Friends, Alumni, and Fellow Historians,

Last spring, as our students, staff, and faculty convened in room 569 for our end-of-year reception, celebrating our achievements and reflecting on the year gone by, an interesting thing happened: the UNC-CH History Department felt normal again. It had taken three long years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that sense of comradery, collegiality, and community that has always defined UNC History was back on full display. Of course, it had never really left, but simply took other forms—Zoom meetings, hybrid instruction, outdoor gatherings. But as we stood around eating finger food and honoring our exemplary students and staff, one couldn’t help but sense that the History Department was going to be okay.

We have many people to thank for this, but one person deserves special mention. Lisa Lindsay, who last spring stepped down after completing her five-year term as department chair, ushered us through these difficult years with the perfect blend of compassion, determination, and creativity. Under her leadership, this department not only endured, but thrived. This edition of the Department Historian offers just a glimpse of some the great work being done by our community of engaged historians. For more highlights, we invite you to follow us on Instagram and follow our Digital History Lab webpage.

The department extends its gratitude to Professor Eren Tasar for editing this Annual Review and to Sam Louie-Meadors, Corrinna Corrallo, and our wonderful team of undergraduate assistants for putting it together. We also thank the many generous donors whose gifts sustain the intellectual and scholarly work of the department. Please keep us informed about your professional accomplishments so we can share them in future publications!

Miguel La Serna
Chair, Department of History