I am from Magee, Mississippi, although I was born in Virginia and raised in South Georgia. I earned two bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. I am interested in early American political history and historical memory ranging the years 1763-1831. Currently, my research focuses on the historical memory of James Monroe comparative to the rest of the Virginia Dynasty using a public history lens to answer how his memory was shaped over time and why Monroe ultimately is overshadowed in comparison to other members of the Virginia Dynasty. I enjoy teaching students and getting them fired up about history. Outside of school, I love to play drums, watch comedies and Disney movies, cheer on the Knicks and Yankees, and research the history of piracy for fun.