PERU – Research from Peru State associate professors, students and alumnus highlighted a platform for scholars at the Northern Great Plains History Conference this fall in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Dr. Jason Phillips, an associate professor of history, presented his paper “A Tale of Two Women, Nebraska 1986: Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis in America’s First All-Female Gubernatorial Election.

A press release says Phillips is hoping to mark the 40th anniversary of the campaign with an article in Nebraska History Magazine.

Dr. Kathi Nehls, also an associate professor of history, contributed her research paper titled “Seaman Knapp: Architect of the Modern Administrative State.”

Sophomore Lucas Hrabik of Louisville presented his paper, “The Klan in Business Suits and Their Thoughts on Education.”

Alumnus Becky Hupp presented her research on the locust problem.

 

Photo courtesy of Peru State; Dr. Kathi Nehls, Lucas Hrabik, and Dr. Jason Phillips presented research academics at the Northern Great Plains History Conference

Here is the college's press release

Peru State College Presents Research at the Northern Great Plains History Conference

 

(Peru, NE) – The Northern Great Plains History Conference was held at the City Centre Holiday Inn in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from September 25-28, showcasing diverse historical research from academics and students across the region.

One of the presenters was Dr. Jason Phillips, Associate Professor of History. He presented his paper titled "A Tale of Two Women, Nebraska 1986: Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis in America’s First All-Female Gubernatorial Election." Reflecting on his work, Phillips shared, "I am hoping to turn this paper into an article for Nebraska History Magazine to celebrate the election's 40th anniversary."

Dr. Kathi Nehls, also an Associate Professor of History, contributed her research with a paper titled “Seaman Knapp: Architect of the Modern Administrative State.” Nehls commented on the significance of her work, stating, “My paper is part of my current book project on the early administrative state.”

Sophomore Lucas Hrabik (Louisville, NE) presented his paper, “The Klan in Business Suits and Their Thoughts on Education.” Written for an African American History course, Lucas drew inspiration from the Civil Rights Tour of the South, which he and his peers took last spring.

The conference also featured the work of Becky Hupp, an alumnus currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of South Dakota. Hupp presented her paper, ‘We Shall Vanquish It,’ Addressing the Locust Problem, originally written for the Environmental History Honors course, Nature's Republic.

Additionally, Caleb Kozeny, President of the Phi Alpha Theta History Club, attended the conference and plans to present his research at the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial National Conference in Washington, D.C., in January.

The Northern Great Plains History Conference continues to be a platform for emerging and established scholars to share research and engage in meaningful academic discussions.

Nestled in the hills of historic southeast Nebraska, Peru State College offers a mix of innovative online and traditional classroom undergraduate and graduate programs, including online graduate degrees in education and organizational management.

Established in 1867 as Nebraska’s first college, Peru State has transformed over the past century and a half into a state-of-the-art institution offering diverse, multifaceted educational programs annually to nearly 1,200 students.