Sarah McLennan

Sarah McLennan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy at Virginia State University (VSU), located in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in American History from the College of William and Mary and a B.A. in History and English from Michigan State University. Her research emphasizes 20th-century U.S. cultural, public, and technological history, alongside broader world historical contexts. McLennan is actively involved in collaborative projects like the NEH-funded Dangerous Harbor, which digitizes records of unfree laborers’ escape attempts in the 17th-century Chesapeake region. She has been recognized for her teaching and scholarship, including the VSU Excellence in Online Teaching Award (2017) and the Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize (2015).

Education:

• Ph.D., American History, College of William and Mary, 2015
• M.A., American History, College of William and Mary
• B.A., History and English, Michigan State University

Research Interests: McLennan’s work explores intersections of gender, race, and technology in historical settings. She focuses on public history initiatives and the cultural dimensions of American history, particularly how technology and societal structures shaped opportunities for marginalized groups. Her projects often involve digital preservation, student collaboration, and community engagement, reflecting a commitment to making historical narratives accessible and inclusive.

Grants & Awards:

• Co-Project Director, NEH Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant (2023-2024)
• Phi Beta Kappa

Grants & Advising: McLennan secured the NEH grant to digitize and preserve 17th-century Chesapeake court records. She also received fellowships such as the Provost Dissertation Completion Fellowship (2014-2015) and the Lemon Project Graduate Fellowship (2012-2013). While no formal advisees are listed, her collaborative projects and guest lectures indicate active mentorship roles in academia.

Labs & Teams: She leads the Dangerous Harbor project, a partnership between VSU and Virginia Tech. This initiative emphasizes student-centered research and digital preservation to document historical narratives of escaped unfree laborers. The project aligns with her broader interests in public history and cultural memory.