Reynolds College Blog

History alum Sarah Myers “flying high” with new book on Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

by

Dr. Sarah Myers, a 2009 graduate of Missouri State University’s MA in history program, recently published her first book, “Earning Their Wings: The WASPs of World War II and the Fight for Veteran Recognition” through the University of North Carolina (UNC) Press.

Title cover of book
“Earning Their Wings” by Dr. Sarah Myers.

“Earning Their Wings” examines the history of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program during and after World War II.

A UNC press release states the book reflects on the “long-term consequences for the women who participated and subsequent generations of servicewomen and activists.”

Myers currently teaches courses in U.S. women’s and gender history, public history, oral history, human rights, veterans studies, aviation, and war and society at Messiah University.

She earned her PhD in history from Texas Tech University in 2014.

Discovering the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

Myers first encountered the story of the WASP veterans while doing other research as an undergraduate.

“I was intrigued by their story and the fact that they were the only women’s unit during World War II that did not receive veterans’ status or military benefits until decades later,” Myers said. “Women were shut out of military aviation for three decades.”

“I found the entire situation infuriating and I needed to know more,” she added.

Myers reached out to some WASP members through a website and grew committed to telling their stories after she heard back from them.

“I was hooked,” Myers said. [Read more…] about History alum Sarah Myers “flying high” with new book on Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

“Talking History” brings scholarship to public radio

by

If you like radio talk shows and podcasts, and if you find yourself drawn to history topics despite yourself, Missouri State University has just the thing for you.

It’s called “Talking History,” and it broadcasts on KSMU on the first Thursday of every month.

Created and co-hosted by associate professor of history Dr. Djene Bajalan and MSU student Patrick Needham and produced by Jessica Balisle of KSMU, the show features conversations “with historians and scholars about the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.”

Radio show and podcast formats

“Talking History” broadcast its first episode in April 2023. The show has evolved into two formats – a brief radio show and a longer podcast that can be accessed online at any time.

“The podcast is basically an extended version of the radio show,” Bajalan explained. “We are limited with our time on the radio (24 minutes). Therefore, we release an extended cut (‘Talking History Extra’) via KSMU where we continue our conversation.”

Bajalan and Needham just completed their October episode, featuring Ozarks history expert Dr. Brooks Blevins.

Balisle said the response to the Blevins episode has already been quite positive, describing it as “the most popular episode so far.”

Previous topics have included the Ottoman Empire, communications in ancient Rome, and China’s one-child policy.

[Read more…] about “Talking History” brings scholarship to public radio

MSU faculty and students shine at STAM Conference

by

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance was well-represented at the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri (STAM) Conference Sept. 21-23.

According to STAM’s website, the conference gives members “the opportunity to come together with other professionals in their field” to collaborate, learn and celebrate.

[Read more…] about MSU faculty and students shine at STAM Conference

Making sense of the world through the lens of history

by

Shania Dedigama, a Missouri State University first-year graduate student, has been fascinated by history and politics from an early age.

“My mom, a history enthusiast, read history books to me as a toddler,” Dedigama said. “From the age of six, I knew I wanted to study history and I told all my friends.”

Student poses with umbrella with castle in background
Shania Dedigama visits Dean Village in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Hailing from Sri Lanka, Dedigama earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the U.K. and a master’s degree in political science from the Netherlands. She is now pursuing another master’s degree in history at MSU.

“I chose MSU because it appeared as one of the best history programs on Google. MSU’s history program also gives me expertise not only in history, but also in political science,” Dedigama said.

She notes having expertise in two disciplines increases her prospects to work for organizations like the United Nations and the Council on Foreign Relations.

“I’ll also get a better chance of getting into an impressive PhD program in the future,” she added.

It is not surprising Dedigama has chosen to enhance her portfolio with another master’s degree.

“The workforce keeps growing; you must stand out,” Dedigama said.

After getting her first master’s degree, Dedigama worked as a journalist at News 1st, Sri Lanka’s largest private news organization.

During this period, she gained experience in investigative reporting and political writing.

“I sat on the journalists panel of a weekly political talk show called ‘Face the Nation,’” Dedigama said. “I interviewed politicians, economists and policy makers live on TV.” [Read more…] about Making sense of the world through the lens of history

MSU faculty get creative with Public Affairs mission

by

Missouri State University associate professor of history Dr. Julia Troche admits it. She is fascinated by the history of beer.

“I have always held an academic interest in the role of feasting (and drinking) in ritual and history,” said Troche, a specialist in Egypt as well as ancient history.

When she and her colleague, assistant professor of classics and global studies Dr. Bryan Brinkman, attended a local beer festival, they enjoyed visiting with brewery employees who thought their academic specialties were interesting.

From those conversations, Troche and Brinkman decided to coordinate a community-facing event about the history of beer that would align with MSU’s public affairs mission while using an interdisciplinary approach.

This would allow MSU faculty to share their expertise “in fun, accessible ways,” Troche said.

[Read more…] about MSU faculty get creative with Public Affairs mission