Andrea Speed

Andrea Speed is an Instructor of History in the Behavioral & Social Sciences Department at Western Colorado University. She holds a PhD in History from Vanderbilt University (2022), an MA in History from New York University (2016), and a BA in History from the University of North Texas (2008).

Dr. Speed's research focuses on child seasonal migration in the Austrian Alps, examining the development of modern border controls and international child protection frameworks. Her scholarly work investigates how nation states treat borders as social containers and analyzes the historical evolution of the 'best interests of the child' concept. She incorporates digital mapping techniques, including QGIS, into her historical research methodology.

Her recent publications analyze historical child migration patterns in the Tyrolean Alps during the 19th and early 20th centuries, bridging migration history, legal history, and child welfare studies. Her research contributes to understanding the historical roots of contemporary migration policies and child protection systems.

Dr. Speed teaches courses including HIST 100: Topics in World History (Migration and Mobility), HIST 302: Topics in World History (Nation and Nationalism), and HIST 313: Topics in Modern European History (Early Modern Empires), where she integrates her expertise in historical border formation and migration patterns.