Jaime Martinez

Jaime Martinez is a Professor and Chair in the Department of History at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). She specializes in American History, with a focus on slavery in the Confederacy, military labor, Confederate economics and politics, and public history. She leads UNCP's contribution to the Digital Library on American Slavery (DLAS), focusing on digitizing records from Bladen and Robeson Counties and creating educational resources for NC teachers. Previously, she chaired the North Carolina Historical Highway Markers Advisory Board and now serves on the new Advisory Committee on Historic Sites for the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Outside academia, she directs the Children’s Choirs at Central United Methodist Church in Florence, SC, and performs as a soloist.

• Education: B.A. History (Pennsylvania State University, 2001); M.A. and Ph.D. History (University of Virginia, 2003/2008); Currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Learning, Technology, and Design (UNC Charlotte).

Her research emphasizes uncovering marginalized voices in historical records, particularly enslaved individuals, and translating academic findings into public education. She actively mentors students in public history internships and integrates experiential learning into courses like HST 4740 - Intro to Public History. Recent projects include the Hayes Pond Historical Marker Class Project (2018) and workshops like Teaching with the Digital Library on American Slavery (2023, supported by an ACLS grant).

Grants and collaborations highlight her role in multidisciplinary teams, such as the multi-institutional DLAS expansion. Her work bridges historical scholarship with community engagement, including curriculum development for K-12 educators and public commemoration initiatives.