James (Josh) Phillips

Ph.D. candidate, Department of History

Research Interests:
Josh’s dissertation analyzes the alliance between the Choctaw Nation and the Confederacy in the American Civil War and explores the increasing “southernness” of the Choctaws through their political, social, economic and cultural ties to white Southerners. His work applies the study of 19th century nationalism to the Choctaws in order to understand the development of a hybrid Choctaw-southern identity in the decades before the war.

Road to the Moody School:
Before coming to SMU, Josh received his B.A. in history from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Afterward, Josh taught American and world history in both public and private Texas high schools for five years. He entered the Moody School in 2017, where he received his M.A. in history in 2019, and is now a Ph.D. candidate. Outside of school, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and children, going to church, listening to music and traveling.