Joy Schulz

Joy Schulz, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs within the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in History of American Foreign Relations from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and a Master’s in International Relations from Creighton University.

Her educational background features:

• Ph.D. in History of American Foreign Relations, University of Nebraska Lincoln
• M.A. in International Relations, Creighton University

Dr. Schulz specializes in U.S. foreign policy with deep expertise in Pacific regional dynamics, where she investigates colonial power structures through gendered and indigenous perspectives. Her innovative work reexamines 19th-century Hawai'i and Tahiti to reveal how female political authority operated within missionary-colonial frameworks and how bicultural identities emerged among missionary children. This research bridges political science methodology with historical analysis to challenge conventional narratives of American imperialism in Oceania.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• U.S. Western History Association’s award for best book on the Pacific West (2018)

As a dedicated educator, Dr. Schulz focuses on undergraduate instruction while maintaining an active research agenda. Her current monograph on colonial Hawaiʻi daily life demonstrates ongoing scholarly productivity, though specific grant details aren't publicly documented. She contributes to the discipline through publications in premier journals including Diplomatic History and Journal of Pacific History, while mentoring undergraduate researchers interested in Pacific studies.