Micaela Wiehe, a 2021 graduate of the Department of History at Missouri State University, has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad fellowship to study in Mexico and Spain.

She is now a fourth-year doctoral student of history at Penn State University.

Describing herself as a colonial Latin American historian, Wiehe explained that she specializes in the history of the Indigenous people group, the Nahuas, of the early colonial period in Mexico.

“My dissertation research explores patterns of Mesoamerican migrations rooted in political, social and environmental change during Mexico’s early colonial period,” she said. “I look at how environmental exploitation and the labor systems used to support it led to a variety of migration patterns with long-lasting effects.”

Wiehe’s doctoral work is an extension of her master’s thesis at Missouri State University. “My thesis examined the evolution of the Spanish colonial legal system from 1525 to 1820 by analyzing the way that the Nahua people influenced, maneuvered and commanded a powerful conversation with the Spanish king through interactions with and within the law.”

Research in Mexico and Spain

As part of her Fulbright-Hays award, Wiehe will spend ten months researching in Mexico City, Mexico, and one month in Seville, Spain.

While in Mexico, she will work as a researcher in affiliation with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). She will also volunteer with PSYDEH (Psicologia y Derechos Humanos), a Mexican non-profit organization for Indigenous women. Finally, Wiehe will participate in an intensive Nahuatl language course taught by Indigenous instructors in Zacatecas, Mexico.

While in Seville, Wiehe will work in the Archivo General de Indias in affiliation with Pablo de Olavide University Sevilla (UPO). Many of the colonial documents pertaining to her research are housed in that collection.

Her efforts, Wiehe explained, will allow her “to produce a well-informed research project on the history of migration in Mexico.”

“People have moved and migrated throughout the Americas for centuries, long before any Europeans arrived on this continent,” she added. “It’s important, though, to consider why, how, when and where the migration patterns we see today came from.”

Fulbright dream becomes reality

Wiehe originally planned to apply for a Fulbright fellowship while at Missouri State. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans, however. She thus waited until she was a doctoral student at Penn State to apply.

It took Wiehe nearly eight months to complete the Fulbright-Hays application. “The application process for the Fulbright-Hays is extensive, including a ten-page grant proposal, two language evaluations, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and letters of support from professors in Mexico, Spain.”

All the hard work paid off when she heard from representatives of the Fulbright-Hays fellowship program.

“When I read the first line of the email offering me the grant, my hands started shaking and I had to sit down,” she said. “I felt a combination of shock, joy and overwhelming relief. It was a moment I had worked toward for nearly five years. I was so grateful to finally arrive.”

The news came as no surprise to members of Wiehe’s thesis committee at Missouri State.

“I was not surprised at all,” said Dr. John Chuchiak, Wiehe’s thesis director. “These grants are extremely competitive, and her work is of the highest caliber.”

“She embodies everything that Fulbright stands for,” agreed Dr. Heidi Backes, one of Wiehe’s thesis committee members.

From West Plains to Springfield to Mexico

Wiehe’s journey to Missouri State goes back to the beginning of her college career when she enrolled at the West Plains campus.

“[West Plains] is where my family is from, and for personal and financial reasons it was the best option for me to begin,” she said.

Wiehe graduated from West Plains with honors in 2016, transferring to MSU’s Springfield campus for its global studies program. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a minor in history, and a Bachelor of Science in Modern Language (Spanish). In 2021, Wiehe graduated with a Master of Arts in History.

Her passion for Mexico’s history grew from a two-semester intensive language course she attended in Guadalajara, Mexico. She learned about the opportunity through MSU’s Office of Education Abroad and the International Services office.

“Living with a wonderful host family, studying Spanish, and making lifelong friends as an undergraduate in Guadalajara sparked in me a deep appreciation for the diversity of cultures, traditions and languages in Mexico. This, in turn, drew me to the study of Mexico’s history,” Wiehe said.

She recalled being especially moved after witnessing a performance of the “Danza de los Voladores.”

“One day, in the small town of Chapala, I watched Indigenous dancers perform,” she explained. “They climbed a 98-foot pole and launched themselves, tied with ropes, to the ground. This incredible spectacle prompted me to consider the powerful ways that Indigenous people have shaped Mexico’s history.”

Interdisciplinary approach to history

After returning from Mexico, Wiehe knew she wanted to pursue a master’s degree in Mexican history. She reached out to Chuchiak because of his specialized academic connection to Mexico. Chuchiak agreed to be her thesis advisor.

“I had taken several classes with him and knew him well through the Honors College,” she said. “Even though I didn’t have the strongest background in history at that point, Dr. Chuchiak gave me a chance and agreed to oversee and advise my project.”

Wiehe described how Chuchiak has assisted her through her studies at MSU and beyond. First, he developed specialized reading lists as well as an individualized course in paleography (the study of deciphering ancient writing) for her. Second, he allowed her to assist him with his research and connected her to scholars in Mexico.

“Dr. Chuchiak has been absolutely instrumental in shaping the historian I am today,” she said.

Chuchiak said he was immediately impressed with both Wiehe’s skillsets and her intellectual curiosity. “Michaela demonstrated an exceptional talent for languages, effortlessly navigating Spanish, Portuguese and basic Mandarin while embracing a true passion for archival research,” he noted.

He also described Wiehe’s resulting thesis as “masterful.”

Outstanding guidance and support

Wiehe also sought out Backes, who teaches in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions, to serve on her thesis committee.

“Dr. Backes is an incredible language instructor and researcher,” Wiehe said. “Her Spanish courses, which I began taking as an undergraduate, provided me with the language tools I needed to pursue this work and a love for the Spanish language and a confidence in myself.”

In turn, Backes described Wiehe as a “fabulous student” and a “wonderful representative of our Public Affairs mission.”

Wiehe also singled out Dr. Djene Bajalan for special praise, stating that his instruction broadened her understanding of global history.

“[His] historical research methods class was essential to preparing me to frame my research for my master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation,” she stated. “He also served on my thesis committee and provided insightful comments and revisions to my project.”

Wiehe credited the history department for its encouragement and flexibility by allowing her to work with faculty outside their department.

“Those interested in studying history at MSU will encounter scholars and mentors both inside and outside of the department committed to helping students grow in the academic skills that will launch them confidently into whatever might be next.”

Hoping to pay it forward

Wiehe hopes her efforts lead to a career in academia. “I would love to be a professor and continue my research and teaching,” she said. “Sharing my experiences and research with students is very important to me and perhaps the most fulfilling part of being a professor.”

“My career as a historian so far has taken me to more exciting and rewarding places than I could have imagined. I’m eager to see where it takes me next!”