Tara Hollies

Visiting Assistant Professor
African Studies

Old Main 406
[email protected]

Tara Hollies (she/her) is a Visiting Assistant Professor of African History. She earned her PhD in African History from Michigan State University in 2020 with her dissertation earning distinction.

Tara’s research, which has been funded by Fulbright-IIE and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grants, focuses on privileging indigenous African knowledge, perspectives, and periodization. She examines the changing gender dynamics of law and religion in Igboland, southeastern Nigeria from the origins of Igbo society up to the invasion of British missionaries and colonial officials in the early twentieth century.

Tara earned the Excellence in Teaching award from Michigan State University in 2020 for her love of and commitment to mentoring students within and outside of the classroom. Beyond research and teaching, Tara has been a member of the African Studies Association (ASA) and the ASA Women’s Caucus since 2014. She served as the Women’s Caucus graduate student steering committee member from 2015 to 2017 and the organization’s treasurer from 2018 to 2020. She has also been a member of the Coordinating Council for Women in History since 2021.