Herodotus Journal
Herodotus is a student-run publication founded in 1986 by the History Undergraduate Student Association (HUGSA).
It bears the name of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, the 5th century BCE historian of the Greco-Persian Wars. His Histories, which preserve the memory of the battles of Marathon and Thermopylae, were written so that “human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvelous deeds . . . may not be without their glory.” Likewise, this journal is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the best undergraduate work completed at Stanford Department of History. Contributions are selected through a rigorous, supportive peer review process.
Editor-in-Chief
Baird Johnson
herodotusjournal [at] gmail.com
As a senior majoring in history, Baird is immersed in the Atlantic World of the late eighteenth century – specifically the political and philosophical origins of American Democracy. He is currently writing an honors thesis on the ideological differences underlying the ratification of the Constitution. He hails from New York City, is a History Peer Advisor, a Gilder Lehrman College Fellow, and a Stanford Constitutional Law Center Undergraduate Fellow. At Herodotus, Baird previously held the positions of Managing Editor and Staff Editor. He has served as a Research Assistant on multiple projects and published papers in historical journals as well as online forums. Having experienced both sides of the editorial process, he looks forward to working with staff and authors continuing the great tradition of Herodotus.
Managing Editor
Novia Liu
Novia is a junior history major with a concentration in the American Founding Era. She hopes to understand how different conceptions of government shaped the creation and early interpretation of the United States Constitution. In between taking classes and reading the ratification debates, Novia serves as a History Peer Advisor and rides for the Stanford Equestrian Team. Back home near Seattle, she can be found cooking up new recipes for family and friends.
Section Editor
Grace Sperber
Grace is a history and chemistry double major whose jam is medieval and intellectual history. You can find her making Celtic knots from 6th century illuminated manuscripts out of twizzlers, reading about church controversies or studying immigration records. Her current research focuses on the material meaning of the constitution in the 1780s and the insight it provides into an alternative heritage of American fundamental law. She also works with expressing history in an interactive and digital medium through GIS mapping and data-based software. When not doing history, Grace is on the Stanford Kendo team.
Section Editor
Krista Arenaodu
A senior majoring in economics with a minor in history, Krista is broadly interested in development economics and the history of diaspora and immigration in East Asia. Where the two disciplines intersect is where she's working towards projects in which cultural patterns are analyzed through the behavioral and quantitative lens of economics. Outside of academics, Krista can be found de-stressing to cat videos, attempting Alanis Morissette jams on the guitar, or straying off into nature with her camera.
Social Chair
Ryan Beyer
Ryan is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in history. He enjoys taking classes which engage in international histories and recommends “History of the International System” to all Stanford students. His favourite topic to explore is communist history and he has conducted research on the Stalin regime and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. He is originally from California but grew up in London and Singapore. In his free time, he likes to play soccer, watch baseball, and plan road trips to the national parks.
Staff Editor
Nilou Davis
Nilou is a junior majoring in History and Political Science. She has a particular interest in the intersection between gender and labor histories in colonial and post-colonial states. Outside of class, you can find her going to thrift stores around the Bay, reading, and trying out new vegetarian food.
Staff Editor
Paloma Ronis von Helms
Paloma is a junior from San Diego, CA studying International Relations and History. She is particularly interested in Latin American history, revolutionary history, U.S. foreign policy history, and immigration studies. She is an Executive Chair for Stanford Women in Politics (SWIP), and she also edits for Stanford's Undergraduate Law Review. In her free time, she enjoys reading, curating playlists, drinking CoHo coffee, and exploring the Bay Area.
