‘Reflections of Power’ Undergraduate History Conference
Hosted by the Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois in partnership with the Phi Alpha Theta Epsilon chapter
April 17-18, 2026
Location: Illini Union, 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
The Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois presents the second Undergraduate History Conference at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which invites participants from the state of Illinois and the surrounding area, in partnership with the Phi Alpha Theta Epsilon chapter at Illinois. The conference will feature undergraduate student presentations and keynote speaker Carol Symes.
Our theme, ‘Reflections of Power,’ invites discussion surrounding power throughout history and its various reflections. Power is found and tested in conflict, romance, or nostalgia. It is reflected in the rise and fall of empire, the pursuit of the few against the many, in the challenge to the status quo, and in the defense of the establishment; it is seen in the historiography and afterlives of the past.
Join us as we explore the dynamics of power and stay tuned for a day-by-day itinerary.