Since 2002, the UNCW History Department has hosted the Sherman Emerging Scholar Lecture Series, an annual lecture series established to honor two lifelong learners and friends of the department, Virginia and Derrick Sherman.
Learn more about the lecture series
2025 Virginia and Derrick Sherman Emerging Scholar Lecture
Call for Applications
“Oceans and Waterways in History”
The University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of History solicits applications for the 2025 Virginia and Derrick Sherman Emerging Scholar Lecture. We invite proposals that engage with the 2025 theme of Oceans and Waterways. Possible topics may address, but are not limited to migration, ports, exploration, expansion, food, trade, politics, culture, warfare and the environment. Submissions concerning all time periods and all geographic regions are welcome.
The Sherman Lecture provides a forum for an outstanding junior scholar (untenured assistant professor or researcher) to offer his or her perspective on a selected topic related to this year’s theme. The Sherman Scholar will meet with undergraduate and graduate students, share their expertise with faculty members in history and related fields, and be available to the local media. The centerpiece of the scholar’s visit will be the presentation of a major public address, which the university will subsequently publish.
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of scholarly accomplishment, relevance of the proposed talk to the year’s theme, and evidence of ability in speaking before a diverse audience. The scholar will receive an honorarium of $6,000. The lectureship will take place on the UNCW campus October 14-16, 2025.
Applicants should submit a letter of interest with the title and brief description of the lecture they propose to deliver, current c.v., the names and email addresses of three references, and a recent scholarly publication. Materials should be sent electronically to Meaghan Wright at wrightm@uncw.edu.
The deadline for submission is April 14, 2025. Finalists must be available for Zoom interviews between April 28 and May 9, 2025.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Twenty-fourth Sherman Emerging Scholar Lecture
Call for Nominations
UNC Wilmington is an EEO/AA institution.
