ABOUT JANUS
Janus is the undergraduate journal for history and the humanities at the University of Maryland, College Park. We seek to grant undergraduate students a voice in the academic world by providing them a chance to publish their work and to participate formally in scholarly debate.
Janus is the two-headed Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Janus looks both inside and outside, forward and backward. He looks to the beginning and to the end, to the past and to the future. He is the passing of space and time. His duality mirrors historical inquiry: studying the past in the context of the present.
Janus was created in the fall of 2000 by a group of undergraduate history students at the University of Maryland. Traditionally, Janus has followed the example of professional academic journals, featuring traditional thesis-driven student papers. After a lapse in publishing in the last few years, our team of editors and writers look to turn over a new leaf. Considering the past in our vision for the future, we continue to publish an online traditional journal at the end of every Fall and Spring semester. We are also committed to featuring the best papers from the required HIST 208 and 408 research seminars here at University of Maryland.
But now, you can read our weekly blogs as part of our established online content. Our team brings you content that includes current news articles, short history papers, thought-provoking pieces, interviews from the department, and more!
Looking back at the high-caliber publications preceding us and preparing for the semester ahead of us, we invite you to join Janus as we consider the past with an eye on the future. Welcome!
STAFF MEMBERS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Julia Steffe
Julia is a senior double majoring in History and Chinese. Her areas of concentration are the Mongol Empire and Medieval East Asia, specifically political history and epic literary tradition. Outside of class, Julia enjoys writing, running, traveling and sailing.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Samuel Ingersoll
"Samuel Ingersoll is a senior double-majoring in History and Russian Language & Literature. His historical concentration is in Intellectual History, with a focus on medieval literature. His academic interests include etymology, Old/Middle English, and religion. Outside of class, he likes to draw, read, and visit galleries and museums."
EDITOR & BLOG WRITER - Daysha Walker
Daysha is a history major in her junior year, with specialization in the Middle East. She loves modern middle eastern history, but is also interested in religious studies, and in her free time she enjoys reading manga and watching Rupaul's Drag Race.
EDITOR - Lindsey Allen
Lindsey is a junior History major with a concentration in Europe, Britain, and Russia and an editor for JANUS. She is primarily interested in learning about history in Europe during the Middle Ages, as well as fashion and art history. She also works part- time for the UMD Art and Architecture Libraries. In her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, sewing, and visiting local museums.
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EDITOR & BLOG WRITER- Amy Kurian
Amy is a junior double majoring in History and Government and Politics. Specifically, her respective concentrations are in U.S. History and International Relations. Her main historical interests include the Civil War and the post-WWII period up until 1970. Outside of the U.S., she is also interested in learning about 20th to 21st century China and the Classical Japan period. In her free time, she likes playing video games, watching horror movies, drawing, and occasionally playing the guitar.
EDITOR & BLOG WRITER- Adele Pasturel
Adele is a junior History major with a regional concentration in North Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. She primarily studies 20th century social and political movements in the Middle East, but is also interested in the general Mediterranean region in the classical era. Outside of history, she has double minors in Terrorism Studies and International Relations and Conflict Management, and enjoys reading, listening to and playing music, and cooking.
PAST STAFF MEMBERS
2023-2024 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Marisa Silverman
Marisa Silverman is a senior double majoring in History and Art History. Her main focus is social change and social movements, and she is writing her Honors Thesis on the evolution of the National Gallery of Art. Outside of class, Marisa enjoys watching documentaries, hanging out with her dog, and visiting museums and botanic gardens when she isn't working backstage part-time at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on campus. She loves fun socks, awkward selfies, and tea (with or without boba.)
2023-2024 VICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF -
Lindsay Moynihan
Lindsay Moynihan is the Vice Editor-in-Chief. She is a senior history major with a concentration in European history, though her thesis is about the 1954 CIA-sponsored coup in Guatemala. She also has minors in Spanish and Nonprofit Leadership & Innovation, with a certificate in Women's Studies. When she isn't researching, you can find her in DC trying new coffee shops and exploring museums.
EDITOR & WEBMASTER- Alexys Lopez
Alexys Lopez is a senior History and English double major. Her respective concentrations are European, British, and Russian history and literary and cultural studies. She enjoys researching Tudor history and 20th-century American literature. When she’s not on campus, Alexys enjoys traveling, hanging out with her cats, and collecting vintage clothes!
2023-2024 EDITOR & BLOG WRITER - Jacob Hurley
Jacob Hurley is a Junior majoring in Business Management with a minor in History who serves as both an editor and writer at JANUS. He's especially interested in WWII, the medieval era, and the Mongol Empire. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, watching an endless stream of YouTube videos, and hiking. He’s always happy to talk about random video games or explain obscure but interesting historical facts.
2023-2024 EDITOR - Mason Yang
Mason is a junior in the History Honors program with a concentration in Religion and Society and a minor in Creative Writing. He also works part time for the UMD history department and off-campus at Möge Tee. For fun, Mason likes to watch movies, visit museums, cook, and play chess and basketball.
2022-2023 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Paulina Leder
Paulina Leder is a Senior majoring in History with a concentration in War, Peace, and Society. She is also majoring in French and German, currently spending the fall semester in France with the Maryland-in-Nice program after having studied abroad in Berlin, Germany, in the spring. Her main interests lie in 19th and 20th century European history, with a focus on World War II and the Cold War. In her free time, Paulina loves to read, dance, go to the theater, and watch movies.
2022-2023 EDITOR- Mark Salman
Mark Salman is a Senior International Relations major, with a History and International Development and Conflict Management double minor. His main research interests are focused on 20th century Middle Eastern history, notably in Lebanon and Syria. Beyond the Middle East, Mark is fascinated by France’s political and social history during the 18th and 19th centuries. Outside of the classroom, Mark can be found passionately supporting his favorite soccer, football, and hockey teams, or giving tours around campus.
2022-2023 EDITOR - Caroline Dinkel
Caroline Dinkel is a sophomore History and International Relations double major with a concentration in Politics, Government, and Law. Outside of her concentration, she is interested in post-Classical European and Middle Eastern history. She is currently a member of the Justice and Legal Thought scholars program and interns for the Anne Arundel County Executive's office. During her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, playing the piano (badly), watching old movies, and going to the gym.
2022-2023 EDITOR - Josh Gallatin
Hello! My name is Josh Gallatin and I will be an editor for JANUS. I am a senior pursuing a double major in English and History. My history concentration is in politics, law, and government- twentieth century politics and the study of fascism (s/o Camus) have been my favorite classes so far. Outside of school, my hobbies include reading, staying (perhaps too) up to date with politics, and relaxing with my cat. After a gap year, I plan to apply to law school and hopefully work with voting rights groups in the U.S.
EDITOR - Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard is a senior double majoring in Government & Politics and History. His history concentration is Politics, Law, and Government, and he is currently enrolled in the MAIR (Master of Arts in International Relations) 4+1 program. His historical interests include LGBTQ+ history, the history of the ancient Mediterranean, and how the idea of race was constructed and manipulated over time. Outside his studies, he's a member of Phunktions Dance Company at UMD and loves to work out and play video games.
EDITOR & BLOG WRITER - Alicia Perkovich
Alicia Perkovich is a senior pursuing a dual degree in History and Art History. Her historical focus is on social movements and revolutions in the 20th century, as well as memorialization and cultural memory regarding transitional justice. She also writing an Honors Thesis on the commodity status of performance art for the Art History department. Outside of class, Alicia is a curatorial intern for the David C. Driskell Center, and spends her free time giving tours, ranting about college basketball, reading, and trying to get her friends to watch Survivor.
EDITOR & BLOG WRITER - Lori Zhao
Lori Zhao is a junior majoring in Information Systems and History, with a concentration in East Asia. Her main interests are in 19th and 20th-century East Asia, the Roman Republic and Empire, and the Romanov Dynasty. Outside of class, Lori enjoys playing the bass, going to the gym, and longboarding around campus.
BLOG WRITER- Dalip Bhatti
Dalip Bhatti is a blog writer and Freshman history major. He is interested in Early Modern South Asian military and political history. Of particular interest to him is the history of Sikhism, the early 20th-century South Asian diaspora in North America, the British Raj, and the First Anglo-Sikh War. His hobbies include woodworking, relief carving, reading satire, and lamenting the extinction of the passenger pigeon.
EDITOR (2021-2022) - Caitlyn McCollam
Caitlyn McCollam is a History major and Art History minor, her concentration being Women and Gender. Though she is a lover of all history, she is most interested in indigenous, African, and Asian subjects. She is looking forward to going into the work field and hopes to someday get into a publishing house. Her interests outside academia include topics such as true crime, classical music, skateboarding, sewing, and reading.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (2021-2022) - Chad Slater
Chad Slater was a Senior Violin Performance and History double degree. His main history focus is European history from the early modern to the present day, but in particular, he finds French history interesting. He completed his honors thesis on the diplomatic situation in Poland following the Versailles Treaty. While not doing history classes or research he could probably be found practicing violin at the Clarice or at an internship on the Hill.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND RECRUITMENT, EDITOR, & BLOG WRITER (2021-2022) - Rebecca Mollet
Rebecca Mollet was the Head of Social Media and Recruitment for Janus. She was a senior majoring in Government & Politics and History as well as minoring in Law & Society and Philosophy. Her main historical research focuses are elections and policy. Rebecca was in the GVPT Honors program and for her thesis she researched polarization in Congress. In her free time, she likes to watch documentaries and do yoga.
EDITOR & WEBMASTER (2021-2022) - Christine Liu
Christine Liu was a Senior international relations and economics double major, focusing on U.S.-East Asian relations and economic competition. She is interested in Medieval European and Japanese history, as well as art history. Outside of academics, she is an avid fan of murder mystery and true crime.
EDITOR (2021-2022) - Nick Piacente
Nick Piacente is a rising senior History major with a concentration in military & diplomatic history and a minor in Law & Society. Besides his concentration, he is most interested in U.S. history and East Asian history. He currently participates in the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. In his free time, he likes to watch classic films, read science-fiction, or hike any random trail he comes across.
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EDITOR and BLOG WRITER- Peter Roberts
Peter is a senior history major with a concentration in Eastern European history. His favorite subject is Byzantium, so never mention it around him unless you want an hour long conversation about it. Early Christianity also fascinates him, and his fantasy job would be on Mount Athos cataloging the countless ancient relics there. When he isn't lamenting the conquest of Constantinople, Peter is usually reading, wasting his time playing video games, or listening to metal.
EDITOR and BLOG WRITER- Michelle Castro
Michelle Castro is a Senior History and Philosophy Double Major with a Minor in International Development and Conflict Management. She is interested in Ancient, Medieval, and general European history, and is currently invested in writing her senior honors thesis on why there should be a written British constitution. As a cinephile, Michelle loves to watch any movie she can get her hands on, and loves to cook and play music. On a nice day, she loves to go out exploring D.C and Maryland with friends.
Clay Capra is a Senior History major with a double minor in Latin and Middle East Studies. He is primarily interested in Medieval History, but he also has a soft spot for ancient Carthage. He can often be found praising Hannibal Barca as the greatest anti-imperialist in ancient history. When he isn’t thinking about history, he spends his time writing his novel, playing Dungeons & Dragons, or visiting his home state, Georgia.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF- CLAY CAPRA
EDITOR- KEVIN RYAN
Kevin is a senior history and materials engineering double major. His main interest is 20th Century European history, specifically the history of Germany from the Versailles Treaty to the conclusion of the Cold War. He is also fascinated by American foreign policy towards Europe after World War II and is currently writing a senior thesis focusing on American efforts to denazify and incorporate former officers of the Wehrmacht into the Bundeswehr. Outside of history Kevin enjoys reading, writing, and is an avid sports fan.
EDITOR- MADISON BEE
Madison Bee is a senior history major with a concentration in early American History. Her senior honor’s thesis is about the change in price of slaves after the creation of the cotton gin. She is additionally interested in the Middle East and the Holocaust. Her on campus activities include the triathlon team, PSE professional business fraternity, and the Food Recovery Network.
EDITOR- PAIGE HAWKSWORTH
Paige is a former Junior History and Government and Politics double major with a minor in Sustainability Studies. She completed her senior honors thesis on the complexity of loyalties during the American Revolution and its relations to espionage. She is also interested in colonial violence and its development through the modern age. Paige is also involved in Sigma Kappa Sorority and the University Student Judiciary on campus.
EDITOR- JUSTIN HAWKINS
Justin Hawkins is a former a Senior History major and Art History minor. He wrote his Senior Thesis on mob violence and party politics in Baltimore from the 1830s through the 1850s. Hawkins was a member of the Maryland Academic Quiz Team, which competes both regionally and nationally in buzzer based, intercollegiate quiz competitions.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - TAHIRA ISMAIL
Tahira Ismail is a former senior History and Anthropology double major., concentrating in British and Western Europe. She completed her Senior thesis on the memory of colonialism among the post-colonial generations in Sri Lanka. Tahira was also involved in Phi Alpha Theta, The History Undergraduate Association, Alpha Phi Omega, and America Reads.
EDITOR- SYDNEY HEISE
Sydney Heise is a former senior history major with a concentration in American History. Her thesis focused on suburban drug use and local governmental response in Montgomery County. She is additionally interested in the American Revolution. Outside of history, you can find Sydney advocating for harm reduction drug policies.
EDITOR & WEBMASTER - CHARLOTTE RACIOPPO
Charlotte is a recent graduate from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in History. She recently spent a summer interning with the video game company Blizzard Entertainment as a writer, and currently works with Game Knight Studios developing the party-management game Traded Blades. When she's not playing Dungeons & Dragons, Charlotte can probably be found extolling the Mongol Empire's policy of religious toleration to anyone who'll listen.
EDITOR - DAVID MALAMUD
David Malamud is a former History, Jewish Studies, and Classics triple major, focusing on Classical and ancient Jewish history. In his dwindling free time, David is the consul of The Classics Club, the president of Tzabim: the Jewish Studies Student Association, a research assistant for Dr. Lapin and his Digital Mishnah Project, and is highly involved at Maryland Hillel. Last summer, David was an intern at the Biblical Archaeology Society and this summer will accompany Dr. Bravo to the CHS's field school in Kenchreai, Greece and will continue research with Dr. Lapin.
Aaron Gladstone is a former GVPT and History double major with a minor in Philosophy. His studies primarily focus on American political history and American law. He is an alumnus of Honors Humanities program, where he served on the student council and conducted research on American instances of political nullification and secession. He is a four-year veteran of the Mighty Sound of Maryland and the Maryland Pep band where he plays the trumpet.
SENIOR EDITOR - AARON GLADSTONE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF- OSCAR SAYWELL
Oscar Saywell is a Senior History major. He is primarily interested in Medieval Social History, but loves to delve into Classical antiquity too. He has presented a paper on the power dynamics of elite Julio-Claudian women at CAAS 2019. He is currently completed his honours thesis on the origins of colourism in the field of Medieval history. He also serves as the Webmaster for JANUS. Outside of his studies, Oscar can be found on the football (soccer!) pitch or relaxing by reading, writing, and binging his favourite TV shows.
BLOG WRITER- Jessica Mahoney
Jessica Mahoney is a Senior History and Education double major with double minors in Public Policy and Human Development. She is concentrated in Antebellum and Civil War American history but also has a love for Gilded Age political history. In addition, Jessica is interested in pursuing research in education policy and recently completed a paper focused on the influence of Confederate sympathizers on the development of education curricula in the southern states. Outside of academics she is the President of the department’s History Undergraduate Association, and enjoys spending time outdoors and practicing her photography and painting skills.
BLOG WRITER- Matthew Overton
Matthew Overton is a senior majoring in history with a concentration on American history (focusing on the American Revolution/Early Republic). He is also involved in Club Dodgeball and the Terrapin Trail Club. His hobbies include hiking, reading history/science fiction, writing on his personal blog, and profusely updating his Letterboxd on the exorbitant amount of movies he watches.
EDITOR & BLOG WRITER- ALAN CLINGAN
Alan Clingan is a Blog Writer for JANUS and a Senior History major, Global Poverty minor, and fellow of the Global Fellows Program. His main interest is in African colonialism but also has a soft spot for 1850-1919 German and Eastern European history and is more than happy to follow his curiosity. Other than thinking about history, economics, or politics he enjoys reading, writing, board games, tennis, and piano.
EDITOR- Rigby Philips
Rigby Philips is a Senior history major with a focus on gender and sexuality. She is currently researching an Honors thesis on infant mortality in early 20th-century Appalachia and working on an exhibition about the history of voting rights in the U.S. When she isn’t talking about the messy race and class politics of the American women’s suffrage movement, you can find her baking, arranging charcuterie, and dancing to the Mamma Mia soundtrack.
FACULTY ADVISOR
Dr. Saverio Giovacchini
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DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Dr. Ahmet T. Karamustafa
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DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Dr. Holly Brewer
