Research mentorship
Faculty mentor to Myra Saeed, 2026 recipient of a one-year Hugh Hawkins Research Fellowship, faculty advisor, project: “Progress and its Price: Visually Mapping the University’s Property Acquisitions and Community Displacement Responses between 2000 -2026”
Faculty mentor to Honora Muratori, 2026 recipient of a one-year Hugh Hawkins Research Fellowship, faculty advisor, project: “The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab: A Global University and National Lab?”
Arusa Malik, recipient of a three-year University Undergraduate Research Fellowship, which supported her work on the project “Dividing to Unite? International Intervention During the Bosnian War and the Dayton Peace Agreement: 1992-1995.”
Arusa was also awarded the 2026 Pier Larson Prize for Excellence in International Studies.
Daphne Tang, Recipient of the 2023 Tucker Prize for Best Senior Thesis in International Studies, and her advisor, Dr. Victoria Harms, May 24, 2023.
Gerardo Fontes, recipient of a 2023-2024 Hugh Hawkins Fellowship, an annual award given by Sheridan Libraries to undergraduate and graduate student to conduct research into aspects of Johns Hopkins University’s rich history; faculty advisor for a research project on Dr. Chester Wickwire, JHU’s longtime chaplain.
Shirin Guru, recipient of a 2019-2020 Hugh Hawkins Fellowship, an annual award given by Sheridan Libraries to undergraduate and graduate student to conduct research into aspects of Johns Hopkins University’s the rich history; faculty advisor to a research project on undergraduate women of color at JHU in the 1970s.
Senior Theses
Since 2026 Bryson Caroll, B.A. in History, senior thesis advisee
2026
Elyjah Bassford, B.A. in History, senior thesis advisee: “The German Element: Battles of Politics and Identity Within the German-Baltimorean Community, 1848-1861,” recipient of the 2026 Award for Distinguished Service to the Department of History
2025
William Polen, B.A. in International Studies (spring 2025), senior thesis advisee: “From Immigrants to Academics: Jewish Baltimoreans’ Search for Belonging at Johns Hopkins University, 1876-1948’
Gerardo Fontes, B.A. in History with Honors (spring 2025), senior thesis advisee, Honorable Mention: “Chester Wickwire: Chaplain, Activist, and Bridge Between Johns Hopkins and Baltimore”
John Ellis, B.A. in History with Honors (spring 2025), senior thesis advisee: “From Vatican II to Vietnam: A Social and Intellectual History of Catholic Higher Education During the Long 1960s”
Leyra Espino-Nardi, B.A. in History with Honors (spring 2025), senior thesis co-advisor: “When Rights Take Root: The 1970 Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities.”
2023
Daphne Tang, B.A. in International Studies, senior thesis advisee: “Structural Resilience in the Eurozone: Sovereign Debt Crisis, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Energy Crisis.” Winner of the 2023 Tucker Prize for Best Senior Thesis in International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Currently at Harvard Law School.
Madison Bates, B.A. in International Studies, senior thesis advisee: “The Social Network Paradox: Facebook’s Impact on Democracy and the Necessity for Regulation.”
Jane Slaughter, B.A. in History with Honors, senior thesis advisee: “Nuclear Ties: An Investigation into the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl Accidents.”
2022
Alanna Margulies, B.A. in History with Honors, senior thesis advisee: “Baltimore School for the Arts and the City that Built It.” Winner of the 2022 Kougell Prize for the best senior thesis in History at Johns Hopkins University.
Joseph Paul, B.A. in History with Honors, senior thesis advisee: “Changing the Game: U.S. Sports Reform in the Late Cold War.” Currently at University of Virginia Law School.
Greta Maras, B.A. in International Studies, minor in German, senior thesis advisee: “The German Energiewende:The Energy Security Implications of Coal Phaseout.”
Nicole Zehner, B.A. in International Studies, senior thesis advisee: “The Performance of Erasmus+ in Fostering European Identity.”
2020-2021
Hana Ryan, B.A./ M.A. dual degree in Advanced International Studies, senior thesis advisee: “Before Nord Stream 2: Early Soviet-West German Natural Gas Trade Deals, Ostpolitik, and the Cold War.”
Sophia Loughlin, B.A. in History, senior thesis advisee, “An Elusive Promise: Baltimore School Reform in the 1990s.” Winner of the 2021 Kougell Prize for the best senior thesis in History at Johns Hopkins University
2019-2020
Sabrina Rodriguez, B.A. in History with Honors, senior thesis advisee: “From High Expectations to Expatriates: How the Soviet Educational Aid Program Altered Cuban Students’ Perceptions of their Country.” Currently at Columbia University Law School.
PhD Thesis
Member of the Committee, Aaron Bateman, “The Space Renaissance: The Strategic Defense Initiative and the Arms Race,” main advisor: Stuart “Bill” Leslie, Department of Science, Technology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Justus-Liebig Universität, Gießen, Historisches Institut
Zweitgutachten für Sandra Engels, „Wahre 48er Internationalisten? Der magyarische Freiheitskampf in der deutschsprachigen Presse.“ Qualifikationsarbeit 2018, Erster Gutachter: Professor Dr. Hans-Jürgen Bömelburg.
VICTORIA HARMS 