Dr. Mehl Joins the Honors Community

Martina Litty

Dr. Eva Mehl joined Honors as the Associate Director early in the Spring 2019 semester, following an internal search. Periplus staff sat down with Dr. Mehl to learn a little more about her and her vision for Honors.

I was born in Columbus, OH, but grew up in Spain. I did all of my schoolwork there, including my first Ph.D. (early modern European history) in 2002. I then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California Davis and the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia in Mexico City.

While at UC Davis, I became interested in how differently Spain and the U.S. approach a Ph.D. I decided to pursue a second PhD, this time in Latin American history, at UC Davis. At Davis, my advisors encouraged me to explore the transpacific connections between Spanish America and Spanish Asia (mostly the Philippines), a topic that I have continued to explore to this date.

What has your career at UNCW been like?

I have been at UNCW since 2011, and so far I have had a great experience. I was hired as an assistant professor in the history department, where I have been teaching courses in Latin American history, the Spanish empire, global history, and the history of drugs and drug trafficking.

After I received tenure, I got more deeply involved with department and university service. For the last two years, I have served as the undergraduate coordinator for the history department, faculty senator, member of Honors boards, and on other committees. I have found that the professor life can be much more enriching when you get out of your “ivory tower” of your department and you start learning about how the broader institution works and in what ways you can assist in it.

What are your current research interests?

I am working with letters of Spanish Augustinian friars who traveled to China in 1680–1724 to convert Chinese people to Christianity. These letters reveal not only the vast, global expanse of the Spanish Empire at this time, but also the daily hardships, anxieties, and challenges these men faced in a remote land, removed from their families, friends and countrymen, with no military support, and yet absolutely committed to the task of gaining souls to the Catholic fold. The letters exude energy, passion, frustration and devotion. I am working on a book chapter with this material, and eventually, I hope to publish my second book in the U.S. on this topic.

What drove your interest in Honors?

I have been teaching for Honors since 2012, and I always appreciated the drive, commitment, and work ethic of Honors students. Before I became associate director, I had been part of several thesis committees, getting to see the quality of research carried out by students. My work as the undergraduate coordinator of the history department allowed me to experience a different facet of being a faculty member: gaining more direct contact with students; learning more about their backgrounds and needs; thinking of ways to facilitate their success as history majors; and assisting them in finding a career path. The job of associate director for Honors included all of this and much more, and I saw it as a great opportunity to further work with and serve students.

I was very clear that I would not leave my position in the history department just for any job—it had to be a job where I could continue to be in close contact with students. The fact that the Honors College was going through a leadership transition with the arrival of Dr. Bingham as director also weighed heavily in my decision. These are very exciting times in Honors!

Have you felt welcomed by Honors?

Very welcomed! Dr. Bingham, Dr. Grove, Peggy, and Morgan have been great in easing my transition into the position, helping me learn the ropes, and creating a fun, relaxed and witty working environment. The student workers have also been very helpful and patient!

How is working with Dr. Bingham?

No two days are the same with Dr. Bingham, which makes this job even more interesting. Dr. Bingham prioritizes the establishment of relationships and spending time with people face-to-face, so he usually has several meetings every day: with parents, prospective students, faculty, etc. I like to join him when I can because these meetings broaden my view of Honors. Dr. Bingham is very easy to work with—he is fun, respectful and always open to suggestions. He has vast experience in running an Honors program and a very clear idea of where he wants to take this college. He is constantly thinking in terms of the bigger picture. At all times, he has students’ interests in mind, particularly when it comes to pushing them beyond the boundaries of their majors.

What are your plans as Associate Director?

Besides some set procedures (scheduling courses, organizing events, admissions, scholarships, etc.), there are several areas of Honors I would like to strengthen, particularly diversity (of students, of faculty, of course topics), study abroad/global approach, and the completion of the senior thesis projects. We need to be more effective in conveying to our students the importance of undergraduate research, the means they have at their disposal to undertake their theses, and the need for students to tackle these earlier in the program.

Overall, I just want to put my background and skills to good use in this new, fascinating stage of the UNCW Honors College.