Shepherd Aaron Ellis

Hello, my name is Shepherd Aaron Ellis, and I am a Ph.D. student in the history department here at the University of Cincinnati. My research focuses on the religious and political history of the early modern Atlantic World, with a specific focus on the cities of London, Madrid, Boston, and Mexico City in the Atlantic context. I have worked closely with Dr. Erika Gasser and Dr. Brianna Leavitt-Alcántara. This is my first year in the Ph.D. program here, and I was awarded the Niehoff Presidential Graduate Assistantship, which is given to one of the new history Ph.D. students as funding for future dissertation work.  

I previously earned my M.A. in history from the University of Cincinnati in 2022. My thesis, "Religious Conversion in the Spanish Empire: Identity Formation in Hapsburg Spain and Baroque Mexico" won the second place Zane Miller prize, which is given in recognition of excellence in graduate student writing and research. In 2016 I graduated with my B.A. with a double major in history and classics from the University of North Carolina- Asheville.  

Starting as an undergraduate, I have presented my work at numerous conferences, and am an active member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and the Southeastern Renaissance Conference. On October 16, 2021, I presented the paper “Transmutation and Refinement: The Metaphysics of Conversion and Alchemy in Renaissance Spain” with the SRC. On March 26, 2021, I delivered my paper “Dynasty, Interrupted: The Stuart Monarchy, the Protestant Reformation, and Early Nationalism” at the South-Central Renaissance Conference. On August 23, 2021, I gave a guest lecture at Thomas More University for a world history class, titled “Looking for Perfection: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Art.” On September 29, 2022, I presented my paper “Fruit of the Seventeenth-Century Church: Proto-Nationalism in the Hispanic and British Cis-Atlantic” at the annual SRC meeting. On April 29, 2023, I presented an art history paper, “Understanding Unicorns: Knowledge of the Unknown & Power in the Hispanic Atlantic” at the South-Central Renaissance Conference, hosted by the University of California- Berkley.
 
I have also published my work. My undergraduate thesis, “Royal Power and Faith: The Tudor Children in the English Reformation” appeared in the University of North Carolina Asheville Journal on Undergraduate Research. My article “Transmutation and Refinement: The Metaphysics of Conversion and Alchemy in Renaissance Spain” was published in the 2021 edition of the journal Renaissance Papers. On September 14, 2022, I was interviewed by Lucy May for 91.7 WXVU Cincinnati’s NPR Station’s segment “Examining the Queen’s Role in British Society and Culture” after the passing of Elizabeth II.
  

Peer Reviewed Publications

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (2019. ) Royal Power and Faith: The Tudor Children in the English Reformation.University of North Carolina Asheville Journal on Undergraduate Research, , More Information

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (2022. ) Transmutation and Refinement: The Metaphysics of Conversion and Alchemy in Renaissance Spain.Renaissance Papers , , 26 , More Information

Invited Presentations

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (08-23-2021. ) Looking for Perfection: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Art .Thomas Moore Univeristy , Level:University

Paper Presentations

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (03-30-2019. ) Royal Power and Faith: The Tudor Children in the English Reformation .Liberty University, VA. Level:Regional

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (01-03-2020. ) The Tudor Children, the Reformation, and Early English Nationalism .San Antonio, TX . Level:National

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (03-26-2021. ) Dynasty, Interrupted: The Stuart Monarchy, the Protestant Reformation, and Early Nationalism . Level:Prof. Org.

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (10-16-2021. ) Transmutation and Refinement: The Metaphysics of Conversion and Alchemy in Renaissance Spain .Duke University, NC. Level:Prof. Org.

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (03-24-2022. ) American Queen, Catholic Empire: Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Origins of Early Nationalism in Hapsburg Spain and Mexico .The University of Cincinnati, OH. Level:Regional

Shepherd Aaron Ellis (09-29-2022. ) Fruit of the Seventeenth-Century Church: Proto-Nationalism in the Hispanic and British Cis-Atlantic .Winston-Salem State University, NC. Level:Prof. Org.

03-30-2019 Most Outstanding Early European History Paper Award “Royal Power and Faith: The Tudor Children in the English Reformation” Phi Alpha Theta Virginia Student Regional Conference, Liberty University, March 30, 2019 Phi Alpha Theta Virginia Student Regional Conference Status:Recipient Level:Regional Type:Recognition

04-29-2020 The Guy Cooper Award for Excellence in Classics Distinction in Classical Studies, Best Graduating Senior Award The University of North Carolina-Asheville Department of Classics, April 29, 2020 The University of North Carolina-Asheville Status:Recipient Level:University

11-11-2020 Von Rosenstiel Winter Award of the History Department of the University of Cincinnati Research grant for modern European history, used to research/translate Spanish mystical writings from the 16th-17th centuries, November 11, 2020 The University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Grant

04-21-2021 John K. Alexander Award for Excellence as a Teaching Assistant or Graduate Student Instructor Award given twice, for teaching assistance in Dr. Stradling’s class “The History of Environmental Activism” in the Fall of 2020, and for assistance in Dr. Campos’ “Homegrown: The History of Marijuana in Mexico” in the Spring of 2021, April 21, 2021 The University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:Department

04-21-2021 Niehoff Research Fellowship Research grant/award used to conduct preliminary research for my MA Thesis, and to prepare a conference paper for the SRC 2021 conference at Duke University, April 21, 2021 The University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:Department Type:Grant

Shepherd Aaron Ellis, CV

Academic - ellissd@mail.uc.edu