Julie Reed, PhD

Penn State University graduate and associate professor in Native American History, Julie Reed, PhD, also holds a Master in Theological Studies (MTS). Through this, she not only provides lay training in theological studies, but also provides services to churches and communities.

KB Schaller

An MTS degree also prepares a person to investigate, analyze and evaluate ways different aspects of religion relate to faith-based traditions, language, and culture; it further prepares one for specialized ministry, a doctoral program, and for positions in teaching.

As a member of the Cherokee nation and a historian with a focus on Native American History, Dr. Reed chose to focus on Cherokee History and education and on Native American Indians of the Southeast. Several years ago, however, the Native American history specialist realized she could also profit from gaining expertise in archaeology.

"Historically," she states, "archaeology has not been a friend to Indigenous people -it's been exploitative, it's been extractive. So, there's a need for archaeologists to rethink their relationships to Indigenous communities, and a need for more voices at the table."

Thanks to the award of an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowship, Dr. Julie Reed could then pursue her dream.

According to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, webpage, "Only approximately 12 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowships are awarded each year. These awards provide faculty members in the humanities and humanistic social sciences with the opportunity to pursue formal training outside their areas of expertise.

"Recipients receive the equivalent of one academic year's salary, two summers of additional support, and any tuition or course fees associated with their training programs. It is a great initiative to encourage cross-disciplinary research."

Other awards Reed has received include a Frances C. Allen Fellowship, Newberry Library, 2009; A Phillips Fund Grant for Native American Research, American Philosophical Society, 2009; David J. Weber Fellow for the Study of Southwestern America, William P. Clements Center, SMU, 2013-2014; and an American Academy of Education/Spencer Small Research Grant, Spencer Foundation, 2018.

Dr. Julie Reed's resume' also shows that she has earned a bachelor's degree in English literature (University of South Florida, 2000); a Master's degree in Theological Studies at Perkins School of Theology (Dallas, Texas); a Master of Arts degree in American History at UNC-Chapel Hill (2008), and a PhD in American History at UNC-Chapel Hill with a dissertation on A Nation's Charge: Cherokee Social Services, 1835-1907. In 2016, Reed published her first book, Serving the Nation: Cherokee Sovereignty and Social Welfare, 1800–1907.

Sources:

Cherokee Phoenix newspaper, "Historian and Cherokee history specialist receives Mellon Scholarship," June 11, 2024

McAuliffe, Josh, "Historian and Cherokee history specialist receives Mellon Scholarship," Penn State University, June 11, 2024, University of Massachusetts, Amherst webpage

Wikipedia

KB Schaller is the

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