Erin S
- Research Program Mentor

JD/PhD candidate at University of Chicago

Expertise

Law, American History, American Religious History, Religion & Law, Historiography

Bio

Hello! I'm a JD/PhD student at the University of Chicago. I work on the intersection of religion and law in American history, focusing primarily on how Christianity and the law have shaped one another and what this means for the law today. I have experience in both academic and legal research and have worked in academia and in the legal field. In addition to school, I enjoy trying new restaurants, visiting National Parks, and playing video games (a new hobby for me!). I'm excited to meet you!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Legal Research Project

For students thinking about pre-law and, eventually, law school, this project will allow them to see what legal research looks like. We would work together to find a legal topic that interests you and you will either produce a Memo (objective, factual review of current law) or a Brief (persuasive argument based on current law). These are the two main types of writing in Law School, so this will give you the chance to get some exposure to this kind of work now.

Archival Research Presentation

Lots of libraries and other organizations have archives and special collections that pretty much anyone can visit. In this project, you will learn the skills of archival research and we will work together to create a presentation of your research. You will produce an informative talk about what you found in your chosen archives and you can present it with accompanying slides, photos, and texts.

Local History Project

Have you ever wanted to know more about the place you live and the people who lived there long before you? Together we will design a project that allows you to investigate the history of your chosen location. Hopefully you will be able to visit cool historical sites, read historical documents, and meet interesting people.

Choose your own adventure

Although my own research tends to be writing papers, if you've got a burning idea about a project you want to undertake, I'm game to help you figure it out! Whether it be writing and producing a podcast, doing an oral history project, or creating a multimedia presentation, I'm excited to help you figure it out.

Languages I know

French, intermediate

Teaching experience

I have worked as a Teaching Assistant in undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Chicago. In those roles, I held office hours meetings to help answer questions about the course material and to help students figure out a direction for their final project. I've worked with students on a range of projects, including research papers, podcast productions, and zines. I have also provided feedback on students' writing and worked with them to improve their ability to communicate clearly and effectively. In addition, I have been a mentor to an undergraduate student as part of the Leadership Alliance, where I worked with a first-generation college student to create and produce a research project with the goal of using it for graduate school applications. I also underwent training in the University of Chicago's Writing Program, and am qualified to teach writing skills to students. My goal is always to help students apply their interests and abilities to projects that excite them, and to help them improve their critical thinking and communication skills.

Credentials

Education

Wofford College

BA Bachelor of Arts (2015)

History, Religion, and French

University of Chicago

MA Master of Arts (2017)

American Religious History