Outstanding Dissertation Award Goes to Dr. Allie Lopez

Every year, Baylor University’s Graduate School recognizes exceptional scholarship, research, and writing by doctoral students in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences with the Outstanding Dissertation Award. The winner in Humanities this year is Dr. Allie Lopez, who graduated with a PhD in History in 2025 and went on to serve as Postdoctoral Fellow for the Department of History for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Below, Dr. Lopez reflects on her dissertation, her award, and her plans for the future.

Please tell us about your award-winning dissertation and what inspired you to choose your topic.

Most Americans know something about the civil rights movement—whether they learned of Martin Luther King Jr. or Freedom Summer in Mississippi. The civil rights era is often understood as a period of great upheaval and change, where Black and white activists from across the South and around the country pushed the country closer to the democracy it claimed to be. As a native Alabamian, I was certainly familiar with the narrative that many participated in the Montgomery bus boycott, Birmingham campaign, and Selma march to bring about a more just state and country. In my own research, though, I began to notice that this narrative was more complex. I found that many Black Alabamians in rural areas did not participate in demonstrations, voter registration drives, or other civil rights initiatives. That question of what was happening in rural Alabama and why Black Alabamians chose not to participate in activist efforts sparked my curiosity. 

My dissertation explores those questions. The project examines rural Alabama during the civil rights era from the perspective of the majority of Black Alabamians who chose not to participate in activism. Despite dominant national narratives of the civil rights movement, the simple fact is that most Black people in the region chose not to join activist efforts, and my work aims to tell their stories. By examining economic, social, and political conditions in this heavily agricultural region, I argue that concerns over financial stability, familial protection, and commitment to place resulted in activism avoidance that has been acknowledged but unexamined in previous studies of the civil rights movement. Though Black women and men in the area were certainly interested in seeing political change, the threat of economic retaliation and displacement inflicted by wealthy whites and white landowners deterred resistance. Instead of engaging in activist efforts, most Black women and men primarily sought to survive in a region that, for all its hostility and complexity, was their home. 

Who was your faculty advisor and how did their guidance and expertise aid you in your writing and research?

Dr. Robert Elder advised me throughout the doctoral program, and his support was invaluable. He encouraged me to apply for research grants that enabled archival research for the dissertation. He provided feedback on every chapter draft, offering suggestions that helped me clarify my arguments and improve my writing. His belief in the project allowed me to write with confidence and ultimately usher the project to completion. He’s still providing feedback on my writing as I craft my book proposal. I’m grateful for his mentorship. 

What does winning this award mean to you?

I feel deeply honored to have my work recognized by scholars across the humanities at Baylor. It is my hope that I steward the stories I tell of real people in a real place well. It is also my hope that the arguments I make contribute to the field, and it means a lot to have others recognize the value of the project. 

But this is not only my work. The research and writing required for a dissertation can be isolating, but it’s truly the work of many hands. In addition to Dr. Elder and my committee members, colleagues, archivists, family, and friends supported me and made my work possible, whether they offered suggestions, a listening ear, or a warm meal. So—a special thanks to all the folks whose generosity and encouragement sustained me. 

How has your time as a PhD candidate in Baylor History’s graduate program prepared you for a career in academia?

Baylor’s history PhD program equips students for a variety of career paths, especially those centered on research and teaching. As a doctoral student, I not only received training in special topics, like Intellectual History and African American History, but I also took courses on how to write grants, how to prepare for and engage in archival research, and how to implement pedagogical approaches in the classroom that yield successful student outcomes. Engaging in weekly discussions, researching and writing papers, and putting teaching methods into practice served me well. Like other doctoral candidates, I had the opportunity to teach my own course, too. Working with students at Baylor (who are excellent, by the way) solidified my sense that I feel called to teach and work with college students. Further still, Baylor provided the opportunity to engage in public history work with the Institute for Oral History and Waco History. Learning from excellent professors in the department and embracing opportunities to research, write, teach, and engage with the public certainly prepared me for my future career. 

What are your plans now that you have completed your post-doctoral position at Baylor History?

In fall 2026, I will begin an appointment as Assistant Professor of History at Georgia Gwinnett College. While I am sad to leave Baylor and Waco, I am excited for this next chapter and for the opportunity to continue in work that I truly love.