On Saturday, April 5, four Texas Wesleyan history majors presented research papers at the East Texas Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference, held at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) in Marshall, Texas. The conference hosted 35 undergraduate and graduate students from universities in North Texas and Arkansas, each presenting their research and responding to audience questions. The afternoon keynote address, "Notations in the Geneva Bible," was delivered by Dr. Taylor Weaver, reference and instructional services librarian and assistant professor of library science at ETBU.

Students/Paper Titles

• Jack Magness, "News Media in the Case of Viola Liuzzo"
• Joshua Murphy, "CIA Reform in the 1970s"
• Robert Shannahan, "The Role of Pseudoscience in Nazi Eugenics with Josef Mengele"
• Michael York, "Ambient Pathways: The Technological Essence of New Age Music"

Dr. Brenda Matthews and Dr. Christopher Ohan accompanied the students to the conference and served as session chairs. Students in the program regularly attend at least one regional history conference each year. Participation is generously funded through the Elizabeth Alexander Fund, an endowment made by long-time Texas Wesleyan history professor Dr. Elizabeth Alexander. 

About Phi Alpha Theta

Phi Alpha Theta (ΦΑΘ) is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history. The society has more than 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters. The Omega Zeta Chapter was chartered at Texas Wesleyan on April 23, 1979.

For more information about Phi Alpha Theta or the student engagement opportunities offered through the History Program at Texas Wesleyan University, visit the Texas Wesleyan History Program.