Historifans was founded in 2020 by Danielle Sanchez, Alex Marino, and Catherine Lee Porter. Danielle was preparing to teach a new first year seminar on Star Wars (but it was really about colonialism and armed anti-colonial movements) and asked if anyone was interested in joining a Star Wars /history/pedagogy watch party. Alex and Catherine eagerly volunteered to participate. As the summer progressed, Danielle, Catherine, and Alex realized that their Zoom geek-out sessions could actually become something bigger. They eventually decided to build a site that reflected their pop culture and research interests.
Editorial Board: Danielle Sanchez (Colorado College) and Alex Marino (University of Arkansas). Editorial Intern: Sam Nystrom-Costales (Colorado College ’25)
Dr. Danielle Sanchez (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Colorado College. Her research focuses on the Second World War in Africa, specifically popular culture, consumption, and social movements in wartime central Africa. She teaches a range of pop culture and history courses, but her favorites are Health and Healing in African History, The Empires Strike Back: From Anti-Colonial Resistance to Star Wars, and Writing Graphic Histories. Her nerdy obsessions: knitting, Star Wars, contemporary romance novels, and the MCU. Twitter: @drdanisanchez
Dr. Alex Marino (he/him/his) is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. His research focuses on the Cold War in Africa and Africa in the Space Age. Top five fandoms: Star Wars, Star Trek, Civilization, The Sopranos, and Dune. He credits childhood favorites Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park for his interest in becoming a professor and spends his free time streaming shows and watching the Lakers and Chargers. All views expressed are his own and do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Army War College, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. Twitter: @Alex_J_Marino
Sam Nystrom-Costales (he/him/his) is a rising sophomore from Eugene, Oregon. He has been the student assistant for Historifans since the winter of 2022. He is an enjoyer of history, and considering a history major. This summer Sam is the assistant for Historifans and also conducting field research in national parks for the State of the Rockies program. In his free time, you can find Sam exploring new areas to take photos, watching F1, or obsessing over the latest Star Wars show.
