The 2026 Undergraduate History Conference, “Reflections of Power,” took place April 17-18 and was hosted by the Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois in partnership with Phi Alpha Theta’s Epsilon Chapter. The weekend consisted of six themed panels featuring 18 undergraduates each presenting original research on various topics related to the dynamics of power. On Friday, history professor Carol Symes delivered a keynote address on women often overlooked in history: “Refracted through Texts and Textiles: Recovering the Power of Early Medieval Women.” The audience remained engaged over the course of the weekend, actively questioning the panelists and delving deeper into explorations of authority, diplomacy, access, gender performance, institutions, and identity. Stefan Djordjevic, associate director of undergraduate studies, closed out the conference on Saturday with remarks that highlighted the weekend’s success and his own personal journey with history.
The conference was organized by UHJI’s executive board: President Michael Zimmerman II, Vice President David Ju, Publishing Director Aidan Wright, Social Media Director Vanessa Turner, and Secretary Henri Marchand. We extend our thanks to the history department and our other generous sponsors!