Editor/President

Jessie Johnson specializes in 19th-century United States History. After she earned her B.A. in History from the University of North Alabama in 2022, Jessie enrolled in the Public History graduate program where she began to look into the founding of UNA’s predecessor, LaGrange College. In that research, she found a rich history of LaGrange Mountain that begins with Paleo-Indian people and runs through the modern day. She is currently working on a proposal for an equitable reinterpretation of the site. Jessie is on track to receive her M.A. in Public History in May of 2024. Jessie is an avid reader of the Peanuts comic strip and named her childhood dog Snoopy.

Assistant Editor/Vice-President

Avery Calvert received her B.A. in History from the University of North Alabama in 2023 and is projected to earn her M.A. in Public History in May of 2025. Her area of study centers on Japanese-American internment during World War II. Avery is currently working on a project with the Public History program to develop a mural showcasing Native American history in the Shoals area. This mural is expected to be installed in the fall of 2024. Avery loves K-Pop and attended 9 concerts over the course of 2023.

Co-Editor/Web-Designer/Treasurer

Garrett Keenum graduated from the University of North Alabama with is B.A. in Social Science in 2022. His undergraduate thesis focused on the racial dynamics in Sir Francis Drake’s alliance with the Cimarrons of Panama against the Spanish from 1572-1573. He is set to graduate with his M.A. in Secondary Education-Social Science and an additional graduate certificate in Public History in May of 2025. Garrett’s favorite movie of all time is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This movie inspired him to enter the historical profession.

Co-Editor/Secretary

Alana Rogers focuses her study on British Imperialism. She is currently working on her Master’s thesis which involves developing working solutions for traditional and public historians to use when dealing with controversial artifacts and topics. Alana earned her B.A. in History from UNA in 2022. She also expects to graduate with her M.A. in History in May of 2024. Alana enjoys collecting pens. Her favorite is a quill pen she acquired in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Faculty Advisor

Brian Dempsey is an associate professor of History at the University of North Alabama, and director of the UNA Public History Center. He completed his PhD in Public History at Middle Tennessee State University, and his MA in History at James Madison University. His work focuses on the relationship between landscape and cultural identity, the connections between the arts and historical interpretation, and the process of helping communities tell more complete stories. He recently served as visual curator for the book, Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics, and he is currently working on projects exploring the public history of Thomas Jefferson, and music archives in North Alabama.