PhD student attends prestigious military history seminar in the United States

Shaun, who has almost finished his PhD in history, was selected as a fellow for the Summer Seminar in Military History, a partnered programme between the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, and the Society for Military History. The event is hosted by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

To become a fellow, candidates go through a rigorous selection process, and represent up-and-coming scholars in their field. Shaun is the only international fellow at the programme this year, and the first to be selected from a New Zealand university.  

Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) Dr William Hoverd says Shaun has been a long serving student in CDSS and the history programme. “This fellowship represents an important marker in Shaun’s evolution towards being an emerging researcher in military history. It is important international recognition of his potential to contribute to the field of military history. Following the fellowship, we are really looking forward to seeing his completed PhD later in 2022."

According to Shaun, the seminar is a three-week, in-residence experience to grow and strengthen the study of military history by introducing fellows to the profession’s fundamental concepts and questions, and its contemporary concerns and approaches.

“It aims to equip fellows with the methodological and historiographical knowledge that will prepare them to make scholarly contributions to the field, as well as to master pedagogical techniques required for developing and teaching course offerings in military history. It’s a real honour to be selected and very exciting. Fellows are introduced to the wealth of resources available in the field, and offered advice on how to use them in their teaching and scholarship. The programme directors and visiting scholars are leading academics in their fields, and are drawn from Texas A&M, San Diego State, Duke, Columbia, Oxford, and Kansas universities.”  

Shaun says the quality of fellows is astounding. “About half the fellows have already been conferred doctoral status, so to be selected as a PhD candidate is a real honour.”

Fellows at the seminar come from Harvard, Washington State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Kansas, Auburn University, University of Southern Mississippi, Florida State University, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State University, University of Texas, United States Air Force Academy, Marine Corps History Division, University of North Carolina, Ohio State, Whitman College, and the US Army Command and General Staff College.

“As pedagogy forms a key part of the seminar, I hope it will provide insight into how military history is taught internationally, especially in the US. The seminar will also give me exposure to subjects that are not covered in New Zealand due to specialisation limitations and practicality.”

Shaun believes the seminar is also valuable in assessing the state of military history course delivery and content internationally. “The experience is equipping me with a valuable point of difference so early in my career, and means I will be well placed to create, develop, and deliver courses based-upon the guidance of leading academics from prestigious institutions."

Shaun initially heard of the seminar from Dr John Moremon from the CDSS.

“It sounded absolutely amazing. The syllabus was excellent, with respected and well-renowned academics delivering the course. Moreover, it was run and hosted by the premier military history society, as well as one of the best museums in the world. This was not an opportunity you see everyday. After reading the information it sounded too good to be true, especially after the COVID isolation of the last two years.”

Shaun says attending the seminar shows Massey’s commitment to military history in a very visible manner, and strengthens its reputation in the field. He says Dr Wiliam Hoverd was very receptive, as were his doctoral supervisors Prof Glyn Harper, Dr Rhys Ball, and Dr Adam Claasen, and Associate Professor Geoff Watson, Doctoral Mentor Supervisor, School of Humanities Media and Creative Communication, all of whom offered their support.

“I believe Massey has the opportunity to be the first university that comes to mind when anyone associated with the event considers military history in the South Pacific. This broadens opportunities for collaboration and increases exposure.”  

Massey has a history of hosting and collaborating with military history scholars from abroad, such as Emeritus Professor Gary Sheffield from the University of Wolverhampton.

About Shaun

Shaun is a military historian and defence researcher based on Auckland’s North Shore. He started at Massey in 2008 doing a certificate for university entrance, and has progressed through a BA, BA Hons, MA, and is now nearing the end of his PhD.

Shaun says military history is something that he's been fascinated with since childhood. "My family has a long history of involvement with the military and conflict, either by choice, but mostly through circumstance which is the case for many families from the 19th and 20th centuries. As both my grandparents were in the Second World War (from opposite sides), that conflict has always interested me as the perspective is totally different and that gave me an appreciation of interpretation - a skill that is fundamental to writing history.”