Current and Past Leadership
2025-2026 Officers
President: Chandler Tapella
Vice President: Gemma Rosenthall
Gemma Rosenthall (she/her) is from Chicago, but new to Rogers Park, and loves having the lake at arm's reach. She is a second-year public history MA student who's interested in memory studies, family history, and 20th-century American social and cultural history. She's excited to work with the HGSA board to foster a rich and rewarding academic year.
Secretary: Riley Burkhart
Media Coordinator: Mason Tolbert
Mason Tolbert (he/him) is second-year History MA student at Loyola University. Originally from Ohio, Mason earned his bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Ohio State University, and he aims for his work to reflect his multi-discipline background. His academic interests include 19th-century U.S. History, Gender and Queer history, and Victorian Mourning. Mason also loves to knit, and is excited to serve as Media Coordinator for HGSA!
Treasurer and Conference Committee Co-Chair: Alexis I. Garcia
Conference Committee Co-Chair: Ivan Guzman
Ivan Guzman is an educator, cultural worker, and the son of Mexican immigrants. He is currently a second-year doctoral student in Loyola’s dual Public History/American History program. As a Chicagoland native, having grown up in Joliet, IL, his research interests are in greater Chicagoland Latine/x History. He has taught high school history classes in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and is currently an adjunct lecturer in humanities at various City colleges of Chicago. He is also a co-founder of . Ivan is excited to work with his conference co-chair and the rest of HGSA on the upcoming conference!
Past HGSA Officers and Committee Chairs
2024-2025
President: Lindsey Meza
Vice President: Minela Muminovic
Treasurer: Connor Barnes
Secretary: Lia Thibault
Media Coordinator: Marin Burke
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Connor Barnes and Eleanor Carter
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Anthony Stamilio
Chair, Public History Committee:
2023-2024
President: Kaylee Morlan
Vice President: Hannah Fuller
Treasurer: Yujay Masah
Secretary: Grace Tony
Media Coordinator: Jonathan White
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Haley Carlton and Yujay Masah
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
Chair, Public History Committee:
2022-2023
President: Liz Ferry
Vice President: Rachel McGough
Treasurer: Caroline Lauber
Secretary: Shannon Honl
Media Coordinator: Yujay Masah
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee:
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
Chair, Public History Committee:
2021-2022
President: Meghan Flannery
Vice President: Anthony Stamilio
Treasurer: Karis Blaker
Secretary: Hannah Lahti
Media Coordinator: Kenleigh Howard
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Madeleine Lawler and Karis Blaker
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Nathan Ellstrand and Lucas Bensley
Chair, Public History Committee: Jenny Barry
Chair, Immigration Advocacy Project: Mary Cole Daulton
2020-2021
President: Scarlett Andes
Vice President: Rachel Madden
Treasurer: Casey Terry
Secretary: Miranda Ridener
Media Coordinator: Ve’Amber Miller
Chair, Conference Committee: Erin Witt
Chair, Public History Committee: (Elizabeth) Lizzy Schmidt
Co-Chairs, Dissertation Writing Group: Nathan Ellstrand and Jenny Clay
Chair, Immigration Advocacy Project: Hannah Lahti
2019-2020
President: Anthony Stamilio
Vice President: Emily Paige Taylor
Treasurer: Hannah Overstreet
Secretary: Davis Stubblefield
Media Coordinator: Alicia Zeimet
Chair, Conference Committee: Cate LiaBraaten
Co-Chairs, Dissertation Writing Group: Nathan Ellstrand and Jenny Clay
Chair, Public History Committee: Keegan Sims
Chair, Immigration Advocacy Project: Alicia Zeimet
2018-2019
President: Emily Davis
Vice President: Cate LiaBraaten
Treasurer: Sean Jacobson
Secretary: Emily Muszynski
Media Coordinator: Anna Claspy
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Alexandra Gradwohl and Sean Jacobson
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Katherine Macica
Co-Chairs, Public History Committee: Kelly Schmidt and Angela Rothman
Co-Chairs, Historians for a Just Society: Lisa Hartman and Kristin Jacobsen
2017-2018
President: Ella Wagner
Vice President: June Coyne
Treasurer: Marie Pellissier
Secretary: Kate Johnson
Media Coordinator: Kristin Jacobsen
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Matthew Amyx and Charis Caputo
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Katherine Macica
Chair, Public History Committee: Kelly Schmidt
Chair, Public History Lab: Karen Sieber
Co-Chairs, Historians for a Just Society: Nathan Ellstrand and Stephen Petrie
2016-2017
President: Kelly Schmidt
Vice President: Ruby Oram
Treasurer: Shannon Pimmel
Secretary: Megan Bordewyk
Media Coordinator: June Coyne
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Julia Lacher and Shannon Pimmel
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Katherine Macica
Chair, Public History Committee: Ella Wagner
Chair, Public History Lab: Hope Shannon
2015-2016
President: Hope Shannon
Vice President: Fazila Kabahita
Treasurer: Kelly Schmidt
Secretary: Maggie McClain
Media Coordinator: Lauren O'Brien
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Fazila Kabahita and Amelia Serafine
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Katherine Macica
Chair, Public History Committee: Ruby Oram
Chair, Public History Lab: Katherine Macica
2014-2015
President: Katherine Macica
Vice President: Samantha Smith
Treasurer: Hope Shannon
Secretary: Jennifer Pederson
Media Coordinator: Adam Widera
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Hope Shannon and Adam Widera
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Amy Oberlin
Chair, Public History Committee: William Ippen
2013-2014
President: Rachel Boyle
Vice President: Pamela Johnson
Treasurer: Katherine Macica
Secretary: Kim Connelly Hicks
Media Coordinator: Aaron Brunmeier
Co-Chairs, Conference Committee: Aaron Brunmeier and Katherine Macica
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Amy Oberlin
Chair, Public History Committee: Chelsea Denault
2012-2013
President: Amelia Serafine
Vice President: Gregory Ruth
Treasurer: Laura Johns
Secretary: Grace Pekar
Media Coordinator: Rachel Boyle
Chair, Conference Committee: Laura Johns
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Amy Oberlin
Chair, Public History Committee: Anne Cullen
2011-2012
President: Peter Kotowski
Vice President: Steven Catania
Treasurer: Christopher Ramsey
Secretary: Amelia Serafine
Media Coordinator: William Ippen
Chair, Conference Committee: Peter Kotowski
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Amy Oberlin
2010-2011
President: Justin Dickerson
Vice President: Andrew Altepeter
Treasurer: Brooke Wibracht
Secretary: Peter Kotowski
Media Coordinator: Paige Halpin
Chair, Conference Committee: Justin Dickerson
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group: Amy Oberlin
2009-2010
President: Susan Garneau
Vice President: Steven Catania
Treasurer: Megan Stout
Secretary: Peter Kotowski
Media Coordinator:
Chair, Conference Committee: Susan Garneau
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
2008-2009
President: Stella Ress
Vice President: Melissa Cushing-Davis
Treasurer: Megan Stout
Secretary: Elizabeth Matelski
Media Director: Albert Vogt III
Chair, Conference Committee: Stella Ress
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
2007-2008
President: Jason Myers
Vice President: Stella Ress
Treasurer: Lisa Davis
Secretary: Abbey Cullen
Media Director: Maria Reynolds
Chair, Conference Committee: Jason Myers
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
2006-2007
President: Elizabeth Hoffman
Vice President: Jason Myers
Treasurer: Stella Ress
Secretary: Jessica Ostrom
Media Director: Maria Reynolds
Chair, Conference Committee: Elizabeth Hoffman
Chair, Dissertation Writing Group:
2005-2006
President: Jennifer Searcy
Vice President: Elizabeth Hoffman
Treasurer: Jason Myers
Secretary: Jennifer Bridge
Chair, Conference Committee: Jennifer Searcy
2004-2005
President: Dejan Kral
2025-2026 Officers
President: Chandler Tapella
Vice President: Gemma Rosenthall
Gemma Rosenthall (she/her) is from Chicago, but new to Rogers Park, and loves having the lake at arm's reach. She is a second-year public history MA student who's interested in memory studies, family history, and 20th-century American social and cultural history. She's excited to work with the HGSA board to foster a rich and rewarding academic year.
Secretary: Riley Burkhart
Media Coordinator: Mason Tolbert
Mason Tolbert (he/him) is second-year History MA student at Loyola University. Originally from Ohio, Mason earned his bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Ohio State University, and he aims for his work to reflect his multi-discipline background. His academic interests include 19th-century U.S. History, Gender and Queer history, and Victorian Mourning. Mason also loves to knit, and is excited to serve as Media Coordinator for HGSA!
Treasurer and Conference Committee Co-Chair: Alexis I. Garcia
Conference Committee Co-Chair: Ivan Guzman
Ivan Guzman is an educator, cultural worker, and the son of Mexican immigrants. He is currently a second-year doctoral student in Loyola’s dual Public History/American History program. As a Chicagoland native, having grown up in Joliet, IL, his research interests are in greater Chicagoland Latine/x History. He has taught high school history classes in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and is currently an adjunct lecturer in humanities at various City colleges of Chicago. He is also a co-founder of . Ivan is excited to work with his conference co-chair and the rest of HGSA on the upcoming conference!
Past HGSA Officers and Committee Chairs