Lacy Ferrell

Professional Overview

Lacy S. Ferrell is a native of Richmond, Virginia, who decided that she wanted to teach history after a particularly colorful eighth-grade Western Civilizations class. In college, she discovered African history when she took a course on Nationalism and Decolonization in Africa, and hasn’t looked back since. After a brief excursion to Canada, Lacy continued her adventures across the Frozen North and went to the University of Wisconsin, where she wrote her dissertation, “Fighting for the Future: A History of Education in Colonial Ghana, c. 1900-1940.” Her archival and field research was carried out in Ghana, England, and Switzerland. Her favorite Ghanaian dish is kenkey and tilapia.

I have taught at Central since Fall 2013. Before that, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor for one year at Macalester College, and I taught several World and African history courses at Madison College in Wisconsin.

My research focuses on experiences of schools and childhood in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Ghana. My broader interests include gender and sexuality, colonial rule, religious identities, and West African history.

I have conducted archival and oral research in Ghana, Switzerland, and England.

Education

• PhD in History and African Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013
• MA in History, McGill University, 2006
• BA in History with a Minor in French, Dartmouth College, 2005

Courses Taught

• Hist 102: World History, 1500-1815
• Hist 103: World History 1815-Present
• Hist 330: Africa to 1800
• Hist 331: African History since 1800
• Hist 333: History of the Black Diaspora
• Hist 334: Gender and Sexuality in African History
• Hist 459: Childhood and Youth in African History
• Other courses taught: Health and healing in African History, Visual Cultures of Africa, History of Ancient Egypt

Selected Publications

• Lacy Ferrell, “Building for Students: School Design and Educational Priorities in the Gold Coast,” Journal of West African History Vol. 5, 2 (October 2019)
• Lacy Ferrell, “‘We were mixed with all types’: Educational Migration in the Northern Territories of Colonial Ghana,” in Elodie Razy and Marie Rodet (eds), Children on the Move in Africa: Past and Present Experiences of Migration (London: James Currey, 2016), 141-158

Personal Interests

I live in Ellensburg with my wife, two children, and two cats. I love being outside and active.