HU History Students Present Research at Academic Conference
HUNTINGTON, Indiana — Six students from Huntington University presented research at the Conference on Faith and History (CFH) biennial undergraduate research conference at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 9-10, 2024. Participating in the conference were Abigail Ensinger, Matthew Nasir, Lilly Prior, Victoria Hilderbrand, Hayley Saxon and Rebecca Luckey. Tyler Herber, visiting instructor of history, and Dr. Jeff Webb, professor of American history, organized and led the trip.
The Conference on Faith and History is a community of scholars exploring the relationship between Christian faith and history. It sponsors professional and undergraduate conferences to encourage and advance teaching and research informed by Christian faith commitments. Students presented research supervised by Dr. Tim Smith, professor of international history at HU, and Dr. Webb. Ensinger, Nasir and Saxon each presented a different paper on Winston Churchill’s record as Britain’s prime minister, Luckey on Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) under Pol Pot, Hilderbrand on Hildegard of Bingen’s writings and Prior on the modern history of agricultural development in Malawi and other African regions.
Students also attended the professional CFH conference immediately after the undergraduate research conference and observed presentations of works-in-progress by professional scholars. The event offered students the opportunity to not only meet peers from other institutions but also observe the give-and-take of experts in a variety of fields of history.
Second-year political science major Matthew Nasir spoke of the impact of the experience on his growing appreciation for faith-learning integration: “Throughout the CFH, I was encouraged by examples of Christian historians who allow their faith to shape how they interpret history. I learned that it is both possible and essential for historians of faith to interpret the past through a Christian lens to help foster a future pleasing to the Lord.”
Abbi Ensinger, a second-year history major, spoke of the experience as an opportunity to improve her research and presentation skills: “It was really great to hear other people's thoughts about my work and think about some of the things I can improve in my essays in the future. I learned that when researching it is important to always think about something you could be missing. I need to make sure to cover all my bases when it comes to research.”
Huntington University students have attended CFH conferences for the last twenty years, including participation in conferences held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Regent University in Virginia Beach and George Fox College near Portland. Conference attendees were supported by proceeds from the Ron Frank Fund, which was established in 1973 in honor of Ron Frank, a former student at Huntington University.
Photo: HU students wait for a plenary session to begin with Visiting Instructor of History Tyler Herber.
