معرفی
Ashley Towle, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of History and Women & Gender Studies at the University of Southern Maine. She also serves as Director of the Women & Gender Studies Program and holds roles in the Honors Program and Office of the Provost. Her research focuses on African American experiences in the post-slavery South, particularly the intersection of death, freedom, and legal justice during Reconstruction. Key works include African Americans, Death, and the New Birth of Freedom and co-edited Grave History.
Education: PhD (2017), MA (2015) in History from University of Maryland; BA (2009) in History from Gettysburg College.
Research Interests: Dr. Towle explores how formerly enslaved individuals navigated post-war legal and economic systems, particularly through her upcoming project on freedwomen’s demands for child support from former enslavers. Her work highlights intimate struggles for justice in reconstructing Southern society.
Teaching & Mentorship: She teaches U.S. history courses on women, Civil War/Reconstruction, death studies, and sexuality. As director of Putting History to Work, she oversees student internships at institutions like the Maine Historical Society and Osher Map Library.
Awards:
- Trustee Professorship (2024-2025)
Service & Leadership: Dr. Towle leads the Women and Gender Studies Program, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty and student-activists. She emphasizes community engagement through academic programming and public history initiatives.
