WSU history majors storm the AHA

May 2, 2019

This year, the Department of History had three majors present at the American Historical Association's second annual undergraduate student poster session.

Last year, Aya Beydoun was one of 20 students accepted from several hundred applicants to present at the AHA's very first undergraduate poster session in Washington, D.C. The Association was overwhelmed by history majors' desire to attend and participate in the annual meeting and very impressed by the innovation and rigor of their research.

Aya presented her research on Perceptions of Detroit's 1967 Uprising, attended the plenary session commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Kerner Commission's Report on the Disorders, and even asked a surviving member of the commission a question, which was captured on CSPAN.

This year, Aya was joined by Kenneth Alyass and Addie Walsh.

Ken Alyass researched urban renewal and policing in the wake of Detroit's 1967 disorders.

Addie Walsh, who intends to pursue a career in museums, researched the Management of Living History Museums by comparing St. Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, Wales, UK, and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

Aya Beydoun researched the roots of political women in early Islam.

History undergrads interested in applying for future poster sessions should notify the director of undergraduate studies by September (to receive information on the call for proposals) and speak with their accomplished peers to get tips on applying, developing their posters, and answering rapid-fire questions from diverse audiences. Learn more about AHA resources for undergraduates.

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