Connect with other members in your area! Our regional conferences offer opportunities to present research, network with fellow students, and receive expert feedback from experienced historians.
Registration Information
Connect with chapters in your state, present research, receive feedback from experienced historians, and network with fellow students from across your region. All students are welcome to attend and present – you'll learn more with us!
Dakota
Regional Conference
February 19, 2026
Location
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
Host Chapter
Hosted by the Department of History and the Zeta Mu chapter of Phi Alpha Theta at the University of South Dakota
The day-long conference will feature a plenary session and morning and afternoon sessions of undergraduate and graduate papers in regional, American, Asian, European, and world history. The Clayton M. Lehmann Best Paper awards will also be conferred. Lunch will be served.
Submitting Your Paper
Students should submit conference-length papers of 8-12 pages (no more than 20 pages) or 2,000-3,000 words (no more than 5,000 words). Papers should take 12-15 minutes to deliver. Please make sure that your paper is fully cited. (A bibliography does not count toward length requirements.) Please work with your professor when preparing your paper for submission.
Papers will be accepted until January 16, 2026.
All papers should be submitted online by clicking the link below. The link will take you to JotForm. You will be asked to upload your paper as a Document or PDF file. Make sure that your name, institution, and paper title are clearly indicated on the document.
Awards
All papers submitted by the January 16 deadline will be considered for student paper awards, which will be selected by a committee of faculty representing the institutions presenting at the conference.
Commentators
If you would like to be invited to serve as a paper or session commentator, please indicate this in the email with your submission. Graduate students will be asked to serve as session commentators, and interested undergrads will be invited to comment on 1-2 papers.
Timeline
Once your paper is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and should receive a formal acceptance within a week. A provisional conference schedule will be distributed in early February.
For all other questions, contact the conference chair, Professor Katrina Knight at Katrina.Knight@usd.edu
The Eta Chi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta at Arkansas State University invites submissions and proposals for individual papers and complete panels for the upcoming regional conference. Papers from undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.
Conference Theme
"250 Years of America and the World"
The theme includes papers and panels that consider the United States' changing relationship with the world over the last 250 years. Topics regarding politics, diplomacy, war, migration, imperialism, trade, or culture are especially welcome. Papers and panels on other historical topics are welcome also.
Students are encouraged to submit work that they have done for previous courses or a work in progress from ongoing courses. All students of history are encouraged to present and participate, however only members of Phi Alpha Theta are eligible to compete for awards. Please note that new members are encouraged to present.
Submission Requirements
Deadline: December 20, 2025
One-page paper and/or panel proposals should be emailed to Erik Gilbert at egilbert@astate.edu by Dec. 20, 2025.
Proposals should include:
The student's name and university email address
The name of the university the student attends
Status (undergraduate or graduate)
PAT membership status (i.e. member or non-member)
Paper or panel title
Paper or panel abstract of up to 300 words
Panel proposals should include separate proposal for each paper
Timeline & Presentation Details
Papers will be selected for presentation and organization into sessions based on themes in the abstract. Notification of acceptance will be made by email by Feb. 1, 2026. Final papers eligible for awards must also be sent to egilbert@astate.edu by March 1, 2026 in a Word document.
Presenters should plan for a 20-minute presentation (roughly 9 to 10 pages or 2000-2500 words). There will be time after the presentations for questions.
There will be sessions in the morning, then a 1-hour break followed by afternoon sessions. The Keynote speaker will be announced by Feb. 1.
Department of History at Virginia Military Institute
The Department of History at Virginia Military Institute is pleased to host the 2026 Virginia Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The conference provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students of history to present their research in a friendly and professional environment.
Registration Deadline: March 1, 2026
Call for Papers
We invite students to submit proposals that address any region, period, or historical theme. Students are encouraged to present projects and papers that they have completed in previous courses as well as preliminary research findings in current courses.
All students of history are encouraged to present and participate, but only members of Phi Alpha Theta are eligible to compete for awards. All attendees (presenters and non-presenters) must fill out the registration form by Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Submission Requirements
Abstracts: All presenters will be asked to upload an abstract when they register. Papers will be selected for presentation and organized into sessions based upon themes determined from the abstract.
Judging Competition: Presenters who are Phi Alpha Theta members and wish to enter their papers into the judging competition will also need to upload their papers when they register. These should be in Word format and should not exceed 28 pages.
Presenters should plan for a 15-20 minute presentation, or 8-9 pages (1500-2000 words). Time will also be allotted for audience questions after the presentation.
Please be mindful of the March 1, 2026 deadline: all papers, abstracts, registrations, and payments are due!
Additional information about registration, maps of campus, and the conference schedule will be forthcoming.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Dr. Liz Schroepfer at schroepferle@vmi.edu or (540) 464-7691.
We look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington in April!
California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
Host Chapter
Alpha Zeta Chi Chapter
Northwest
Regional Conference
2026 (Date TBD)
Location
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Host Chapter
Eta Tau Chapter
Note
Specific date to be announced
New York West/Central
Regional Conference
2026 (Date TBD)
Location
Ithaca College, Ithica, NY
Host Chapter
Xi Chi Chapter
Note
Specific date to be announced
Oklahoma
Regional Conference
2026 (Date TBD)
Location
Oklahoma Christian University, Edmond, OK
Host Chapter
Tau Sigma Chapter
Note
Specific date to be announced
Interested in Hosting a Regional Conference?
Regional conferences are a great opportunity for your chapter to showcase its work and connect with neighboring chapters. Contact your regional director to learn more about hosting opportunities.
