Portland State University Department of History

08/07/2026

🌱🎬 Congratulations, Dave!

Congratulations to PSU History alum David-Paul (Dave) Hedberg (M.A. 2017) on the sold-out Portland premiere of his debut documentary, The Seeds of Peace, at Tomorrow Theater on the 81st anniversary of Hiroshima. 👏

The film tells the story of Hideko Tamura Snider, who was just ten years old when Hiroshima was bombed in 1945. In the decades since, she has gathered seeds from trees that survived the blast—more than 55 of those “peace trees” now grow in communities across Oregon, living symbols of resilience, remembrance, and hope. 🌳🕊️

🎧 Hear Dave talk about The Seeds of Peace, Hideko Tamura Snider, and the history behind the film on OPB’s Think Out Loud — https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/04/think-out-loud-seeds-of-peace-documentary-hiroshima-survivor-tree-seeds/

We’re proud to see a PSU History alum bringing history to the screen and sharing this remarkable story with audiences. Congratulations, Dave! 💚

We talk with historian David-Paul B. Hedberg, producer and director of “Seeds of Peace.” The film is screening around the state, including at Portland's Tomorrow Theater on the August 6 anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

06/03/2026

Logan Horne is graduating with a Bachelor’s in History. Asked about his favorite class, Logan had a hard time choosing a single favorite, but he landed on “HST 490, Comparative World History: Global Health with Professor Tappan,” saying that it “should probably be a required course for all majors. Its survey of global health history since the colonial period, discussion of the social determinants of health, exploration of structural issues and the influence of racism was fascinating, devastating, and extremely relevant.”

Logan is graduating with a minor in Classical Studies and he particularly enjoyed reading “ Euripides’ Bacchae, Emeric Bergeaud’s Stella, and The Murder, Betrayal, and Slaughter of the Glorious Charles, Count of Flanders by Galbert of Bruges.”

Congratulations, Logan! May many more history books be in your future, no matter what it holds. We are proud to call you a PSU historian! 💚

06/02/2026

Avery Clark is graduating with a Bachelor’s in History. What advice would Avery give to a new history major? “The point isn’t to memorize historical facts—the point is to learn how to think like a historian. Come with an open mind, and it will change you forever. (Also learn Chicago-style citations.)”

Avery is wrapping up their honors thesis on seventeenth-century Scottish Presbyterians and will be attending Princeton Theological Seminary this fall! 🐅Congratulations, Avery! We are so proud to call you a PSU historian! 💚

05/30/2026

🏆 The 8th Annual History Slam is in the books! 🏆

What an incredible evening of research, storytelling, and competition at Kennedy School. This year's competitors transformed months of original historical research into compelling three-minute presentations that captivated both the judges and audience.

Congratulations to this year's winners:

🥇 Brian Sheridan
🥈 A. Isabelle Amezcua (also People's Choice Award 🏆)
🥉 Lally Pollen
(Photo: left to right)

A special thank you to our fantastic emcee, Eliza Canty-Jones, Oregon Historical Quarterly, whose energy, wit, and engaging conversation kept the evening moving.

And thank you to our outstanding judges— David Bowman, Mark Rothert, Callie Pappas, Vicky Lorca-White, Nicky Yasuhara, and David Olsen—for the challenging task of selecting winners from such an exceptional group of presenters.

Congratulations to all of our competitors—you made this one of the strongest History Slams yet! 🎉📚✨

05/28/2026

Happening Tonight!

The 8th Annual PSU History Slam

McMenamins Kennedy School Theater
🗓 Thursday, May 28, 2026
⏰ 7 PM (Doors at 6 PM)
🎟 Free with registration | Seating is limited!
👨‍👩‍👧 All ages welcome

History meets high-stakes competition 🎤🏆

PSU students have just THREE minutes to turn their research into unforgettable presentations before a live audience and panel of judges.

Expect bold ideas, surprising stories, and fast-paced competition ⚡ Cheer on your favorites and see who earns the title of 8th Annual FOH History Slam Champion!

🔗 Event details: https://www.mcmenamins.com/event.aspx?id=276013
🎟 Register for free: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/45119883/the-8th-annual-psu-history-slam-portland-mcmenamins-kennedy-school-

05/24/2026

Bri Whitacre is graduating with a BA in History. When asked what her favorite history class was, she responded: “Don’t make me choose from all my darlings! If I have to choose, World History of Capitalism with Prof. Bohling helped me write better historiography, gave me a ton of helpful insight into the application of cultural and political capital, and saw me through some challenging research I am really proud of.”

We get to keep Bri a little longer, thanks to her joining our BA+MA program. Congratulations, Bri! Once you’re a PSU historian, you’ll always be a PSU historian.

05/24/2026

Kelly Parson is a graduating History Major. Her advice to new majors? “Give yourself enough time to read, and even more time to write. You can do this!” Kelly adds: “I am minoring in Indigenous Nations Studies and obtaining a certification in African American Studies. I will be back for grad school after taking a short hiatus. Nahánkʰuotana eyítʰe’. Emé’ kanaká eepíkʰ. (“I am Cow Creek Umpqua. We are still here.”)”

Congratulations, Kelly! We are so proud to call you a PSU historian!

05/20/2026

Congratulations, Lauren Yanase, for winning the Oregon Historical Society’s Joel Palmer Award for her article “‘Not fit for human habitation’: Portland’s Wartime Japanese American Detention Camp” in the Spring 2025 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly. The Joel Palmer award is given annually to the best article in the Oregon Historical Quarterly.

Lauren is currently a graduate student in the History Department but her article began as a paper she wrote as an *undergraduate* in Prof. Catherine McNeur’s Research Seminar on Environmental History a few years ago.

Congratulations, Lauren! You make us all proud!

05/13/2026

Rachel Bard is graduating with a BS in History. When asked about her favorite class, Rachel responded: “My one-on-one senior project with Prof Ott was my favorite course, because it really allowed me to dig deep into a topic I’m passionate about to a level other courses generally haven’t allowed for. Other than that, I would have to say Prof Ott’s Medieval Europe series, because it’s what made me fall in love with Medieval History.”

Congratulations, Rachel! We look forward to celebrating you (and medieval history!) at the departmental ceremony in June! 💚

05/13/2026

Trenna Wilson is graduating with a Master’s in History. Her advice for new grad students is GOLD: “Be brave about letting people see your mistakes, your struggles, and your mess. Ask for help, bring the ugliest drafts to workshop, show up even (especially) when you feel stuck or behind. Learning requires mistakes, backtracking, and getting it wrong.”

Trenna adds: “Thanks to 5 straight years with PSU’s History Department, I’m off to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities this fall for a PhD, with their DOVE (Diversity of Views and Experiences) Fellowship. BA was 2023, and now I am wrapping my MA with the World History endorsement and my graduate certificate in Gender, Race, and Nations.”

Her MA thesis is titled “When Bad Fences Make Bad Neighbors: Civilization v. Pastoralism in Kenya and Oregon 1860s-1930s,” which was co-chaired by Prof. Katy Barber and Prof. Jennifer Tappan and drafted and researched extensively in Dr. Joseph Bohling’s classes.

Congratulations, Trenna! We are lucky to call you one of ours and can’t wait to see what you achieve at University of Minnesota!