Melanie Pavich

Dr. Melanie Pavich serves as Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary and Historical Studies within the Department of Liberal Studies at Mercer University's College of Professional Advancement. Her academic work bridges historical scholarship with community engagement, focusing on underrepresented narratives of the American South.

Education:

• PhD in Social Foundations of Education, University of Georgia (2010)
• MA in History, Clemson University (1996)
• BA in History, Agnes Scott College (1993)

Research Focus: Dr. Pavich's scholarship centers on race and gender in 19th-20th century Southern United States, with specialized expertise in African American education systems and Gullah Geechee cultural preservation. Her innovative service-learning methodology transforms undergraduate classrooms into active historical documentation sites, where students produce digital narratives that become permanent archival resources. This work critically examines power dynamics in educational institutions while preserving endangered community histories.

Publication Trends: Her scholarly output spans historical monographs analyzing primary sources from antebellum Georgia to contemporary digital humanities projects. Recent work demonstrates increasing integration of technology in historical preservation, with growing emphasis on community-participatory research models that empower students as co-creators of historical knowledge.

Scientific Recognition:

• Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities (2024)
• Dual nominations for Mercer's Hendricks Teaching Excellence Award (2020, 2021)
• Vulcan Materials Innovation in Teaching Award (2016)

Advising & Resources: Through the Coastal Georgia Research Initiative, Dr. Pavich mentors undergraduate researchers in field documentation projects with institutional support from Mercer University and Vulcan Materials Company. Student work directly contributes to community archives, creating sustainable research infrastructure while developing students' methodological skills in oral history and digital storytelling.

Research Infrastructure: She directs the Coastal Georgia Research Initiative, which maintains active partnerships with St. Simons Island archives to preserve student-generated digital stories. This initiative functions as a living laboratory for historical methodology, connecting classroom learning with real-world cultural preservation needs in coastal Georgia communities.