Summer Research Fellows Share Results

By Michael Halvorson ’85, Benson Family Chair in Business and Economic History

Are you curious about innovative historical research projects that are transforming PLU?

PLU’s Business and Economic History Program invites you to learn more at a presentation of creative scholarship by the 2021 Benson Foundation Summer Research Fellows. The colloquium takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Xavier Hall, Room 250.

Each year the Benson Family Foundation supports paid student-faculty research projects that support the mission of the university and academic inquiry in history, economics, business, health care, innovation studies, and more.

Student-faculty research teams prepare a proposal in during Spring term that is reviewed by the Innovation Studies Steering Committee. Successful applicants then spend 12 weeks over the Summer working on research projects with a faculty mentor.

This year’s Benson Fellowship Speakers

Fulton Bryant-Anderson ’23, a History and Communication major who examined intersections among history, media studies, and education via a new podcast entitled Innovative History. (Faculty mentor: Mike Halvorson)

Kristin Moniz ’22, a Business and Economics major who studied the business and economic history of hotels, with an emphasis on how the hospitality industry has managed sustainability initiatives over the past 40 years. (Faculty mentors: Mike Halvorson and Karen Travis)

Gracie Anderson ’21, a History and Political Science major who studied ‘Straight,’ ‘Gay,’ and ‘Queer’ opposition to Initiative 13, a 1978 proposal that sought to overturn recently won legal protections for Queer people in housing and employment in the City of Seattle. (Faculty mentor: Peter Grosvenor)

The Business and Economic History Program is grateful to the Benson Family Foundation for their support of the fellowship program and all the unit’s academic programming.

For additional information about the fellowship program, visit http://www.plu.edu/business-economic-history-program

For event information, email Prof. Mike Halvorson at halvormj@plu.edu