معرفی
Dr. Katherine Perrotta serves as Assistant Professor of Middle Grades and Secondary Education within Mercer University's College of Education, specializing in social studies education with emphasis on historical empathy pedagogies and place-based learning. Her scholarly contributions focus on K-12 teacher development and historical consciousness.
Her academic preparation includes:
- PhD in Teaching & Learning from Georgia State University (2017)
- MA in History from City University of New York College of Staten Island (2009)
- BS in Adolescence Education from State University of New York College at Oneonta (2006)
Perrotta's research examines historical empathy development through local history projects, with particular attention to civil rights narratives and teacher activism. She investigates how place-based learning connects students to community heritage while developing critical perspectives on education policy and social justice. Her work bridges historical scholarship with practical classroom applications, often involving youth participatory action research.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in historical empathy methodologies, with increasing focus on Georgia-specific contexts like Stone Mountain and Shermantown. She consistently integrates primary sources through Library of Congress partnerships while expanding into pandemic-era historical documentation and AI's impact on academic discourse.
Key recognitions include:
- John Laska Distinguished Dissertation Award (2017)
- Literati Award for Outstanding Paper (2022)
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Rep. Lucy McBath (2022)
- Mercer University Five-Year Service Award (2024)
As active editorial reviewer for nine journals and committee member for national organizations (Organization of Educational Historians, National Council for History Education), Perrotta shapes scholarly discourse while mentoring through Student Leadership North's Fulton County projects. Her grant work with Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources demonstrates sustained commitment to teacher development.
She directs local history initiatives connecting high school students with community heritage, notably developing the "History in our Backyard Podcast" project and youth-led research on Stone Mountain's historical significance.
