1. How did you become involved with AJHA?

I became a member of AJHA because of my interest in media history and in joining a community of like-minded scholars. I am excited to be presenting at my first AJHA conference in October! 

2. How did you develop your interest in journalism or media history?

My interest in media history stems from my scholarly background: my bachelor's degree is in history, and I have carried over that interest to my work in the journalism field, looking particularly at early women journalists and media coverage of women and minorities. I have published two articles that I am particularly proud of: "'A True Newspaper Woman': The Career of Sadie Kneller Miller," published in Journalism History, is the first article-length analysis of the career of a trailblazing journalist from the turn of the twentieth century; and "Race Films and the Black Press: Representation and Resistance," published in American Journalism, which examines Black press coverage of 'race films' in the early twentieth century. I am excited to continue producing media history scholarship—at the upcoming AJHA conference, I will be presenting a co-authored paper on Black press coverage of the pioneering Black figure skater Mabel Fairbanks.  

3. How has your current position as a president’s postdoctoral fellow at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota supported your research and/or teaching goals?

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a President's Postdoctoral Fellow, which provides scholars two years of protected research time before transitioning into faculty positions. I have been able to advance my research agenda during this time, presenting several papers at conferences and entering them into the publication pipeline. The Hubbard School has been extremely supportive, providing both mentorship and financial assistance in supporting my research goals. 

4. What question(s) do you wish fellow researchers or colleagues would ask about your work?

I always appreciate being able to discuss the practical implications of my work. Whether it's historical scholarship or another kind of qualitative analysis, I think it's very important to examine how my scholarly contributions connect to, and provide insight about, journalism and media in contemporary contexts, and what real-world problems they address. Talking this through with colleagues helps me articulate the "so what" of my research.

5. What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of academia?

I am an avid sports fan and love attending baseball games and tennis tournaments. I'm also a film buff and often go to the movies to watch the latest releases. Finally, I have just started learning to play the guitar and am enjoying it so far!

Carolina Velloso is the President's Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include the professional experiences of women and minority journalists and the representation of women and minorities in media.