On Feb. 23, Belmont’s Xi-Alpha Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the History Honor Society, hosted the annual Tennessee Regional Conference. Dr. Cynthia Bisson, faculty advisor to the Xi-Alpha Chapter and conference program coordinator, reported that the conference attracted 90 participants from 12 universities. The highlight of the conference was the luncheon keynote address “Going into the Belly of the Beast: The Underground Railroad and the Attack on Slavery” given by Dr. Richard Blackett, Andrew Jackson Professor of History at Vanderbilt University.
The conference also featured a best paper competition in the areas of American History and World History. Belmont Xi Alpha members, Steven Gallo and Sarah Nelson won first and second place in the American History competition while member David Suell won first place in the World History division. Other Xi Alpha members who gave papers were Matthew Craft, Pamela D’Antonio and Ray Posada. History Department Faculty members Dr. Douglas Bisson, Dr. Brenda Jackson Abernathy, Dr. Daniel Schafer, Dr. Peter Kuryla, Kevin Van Zant and Debi Back took part in conference as panel chairs and judges.