Social scientist view the world through lenses other’s may deem insignificant. History scholars revisit the past in order to solve current and avoid unforeseen problems. Yet, the overarching reason for studying history is this; studying the past helps us understand the present. The present is simply the current moment of that process we call, “history” and the present world is truly global. The study of history, therefore is a crucial part of college education because it is through the study of the past that people of all cultures participate in defining their identity and their values.

Dr. Shepherd is an experienced academic who teaches courses in United States, World History and African American Studies. She is also a research methodologist in the department of doctoral studies and associated with several academic committees, associations and public policy organizations.

“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States. ” W.E.B. Du Bois

““I also believe that academic freedom should protect the right of a professor or student to advocate Marxism, socialism, communism, or any other minority viewpoint - no matter how distasteful to the majority, provided ...”

— Richard M. Nixon”

““Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way.””

— Nikki Giovanni

““By academic freedom I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true. This right implies also a duty: one must not conceal any part of what on has recognized to be true. It is evident that any restriction on academic freedom acts in such a way as to hamper the dissemination of knowledge among the people and thereby impedes national judgment and action.”

— Albert Einstein”