Meet the Mellon Fellows: Dr. Sophia Ford

Dr. Sophia Ford

University of Oregon
PhD, Environmental Science, Studies and Policy

Host Site: Intermountain Regional Office
Fellowship Title: West of the American Revolution: Placemaking, Belonging, and Identity in the Intermountain Region
Project Description: Much of the programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will emphasize people, places, and events in the eastern US. The Intermountain West, however, also has rich histories from this period and beyond. Lands taken to form parks across the West were home to Indigenous people from time immemorial, as well as Spanish colonists and their descendants during the Revolutionary Era. Dr. Ford will assist parks with researching the Revolution and its legacies in the Intermountain West and making meaningful connections across the region and for visitors; and developing interpretive models that parks across the NPS can use to connect to the broader themes of America at 250.

Bio:

Dr. Sophia Ford holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, Science and Policy from the University of Oregon. Their research focuses on white supremacy, cultural memory, and political geography. Growing up in rural Kansas significantly influenced their dissertation, which investigates the unfolding dynamics of white nationalism, pro-private property activists, and militant right-wing organizing in debates over commemorative spaces. They trace the evolution of far-right organizations from early 20th-century support for federal initiatives to contemporary opposition framed around private property rights.

Sophia earned a B.S. in Geology from Kansas State University in 2013, where they focused on groundwater contamination remediation. Post-graduation, they worked as an environmental scientist, monitoring toxic pollution from the US military across the Midwest. Sophia joined the Peace Corps in Malawi from 2017-2019, collaborating with the Department of Forestry on afforestation projects. This experience highlighted global environmental issues and the roles of imperialism, colonialism, and white supremacy in perpetuating injustices. Sophia then obtained an M.S. in Environmental and Energy Policy from Michigan Technological University, working with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. They mapped the spatial distribution of mineral ownership in the Lake Superior watershed, collaborating with Indigenous Natural Resource Departments to promote Indigenous sovereignty and land back by identifying and mapping subsurface property owners in the Great Lakes region.

Tell us about your research interests!

My research focuses on the intersection of white supremacy, political geography, cultural memory, and anti-environmentalism. This inquiry builds on my dissertation research, which examined how the political right shapes cultural memory. In my dissertation, I uncovered instances of historical collaboration between the state and conservative organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the Confederacy. Their collaboration promoted white nationalism through the Lost Cause and Manifest Destiny commemoration. A notable shift is observed among contemporary right-wing factions, as they now oppose state-led commemoration initiatives rooted in the same ideology, instead favoring local interventions. This shift indicates a broader alignment with global far-right movements rooted in white nationalism, anti-statism, and militant organizing, extending far beyond commemoration.

What are you most excited about as you begin your fellowship?

I am excited about collaborating with groups and individuals on topics related to the history of the Intermountain West, especially those who have been systemically excluded from mainstream historical narratives. By working alongside these communities, I am excited to co-create public narratives that provide a more comprehensive understanding of U.S. history, particularly ones that reckon with ongoing legacies of white supremacy and settler colonialism. This involves not only highlighting historical injustices but also examining their enduring impacts on contemporary society. Through collaborative research, public history initiatives, and community outreach, I hope to contribute to a broader and more honest discourse about U.S. history. Ultimately, I look forward to fostering meaningful dialogues and producing scholarship that challenges dominant historical paradigms and promotes social justice.

Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

This project was made possible through the National Park Service by a grant from the National Park Foundation through generous support from the Mellon Foundation. The Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship program is administered through a partnership between NPS, NPF, and American Conservation Experience.