Washington, Columbia, and the 250th

Dr. Woody Holton

Dr. Woody Holton earned his B.A. in English from the University of Virginia and his Ph.D. in History from Duke University. Currently, he is a professor of history at the University of South Carolina where he teaches Early American history, especially the American Revolution, with a focus on economic history and on African Americans, Native Americans, and women. Holton’s 2009 book, Abigail Adams, which he wrote on a Guggenheim fellowship, won the Bancroft Prize. Holton is the author of Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution (2007), a finalist for the George Washington Book Prize and the National Book Award. His first book, Forced Founders: Indians, Debtors, Slaves and the Making of the American Revolution in Virginia (1999), won the Organization of American Historians’ Merle Curti award. In 2021, Holton's Liberty Is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution was published. Annette Gordon-Reed calls it a “deeply researched and bracing retelling” and Gordon S. Wood characterizes it as a “spirited account" of the Revolution. A prolific researcher and writer as well as gifted teacher, Holton's vast knowledge on the Revolutionary and early national periods will enrich teachers with the content needed to teach the lasting legacy of our nation's most well-known Founding Father.

Dr. Timothy E. Hicks

Dr. Timothy E. Hicks is a graduate of Furman University (BA in History) and the University of South Carolina (MAT in History; Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction).  Nationally-board certified in Early Adolescence/Social Studies-History (2002-2022), he has taught at Dent Middle School in Columbia since 1994. Currently, he is teaching eighth grade South Carolina and United States history in The Learning Collaborative, the district’s oldest middle school academic magnet program. A mock trial coach for 25 years, a teacher and judge in National History Day, a school department leader, an intern and new teacher mentor, a Master Teacher at the 2023 White House History Teacher Institute, and a George Washington Teacher Institute 250 Ambassador, Dr. Hicks has presented 90 times at the district, state, and national levels. He is a primary author of The South Carolina Journey, a textbook used in most districts across the state, as well as curriculum available at the South Carolina Department of Education. 

He has been honored with state awards by Gilder Lehrman, the Society of the Cincinnati of South Carolina, Daughters of the American Revolution, South Carolina Council for the Social Studies, and the South Carolina Bar. He was named the 2020 National American History Teacher of the Year by the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars. Currently, Dr. Hicks serves as the President of the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies, the state's largest professional organization for history teachers. 

Carmen Sangster

Carmen Sangster is the education manager at Historic Columbia, where she oversees the development of engaging educational programs and resources that connect museum content with classroom learning. During her tenure, the Education team has revitalized the museum’s education programming, expanding offerings for teachers, and aligning them with state social studies standards to better support instructional needs. She is dedicated to creating meaningful, accessible learning experiences that inspire curiosity and deepen understanding of Columbia’s history. When she is not working, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and traveling. 

Beth Johnson

Beth Johnson is the education assistant at Historic Columbia, where she develops and presents traveling trunks in schools throughout the state. She earned her Master of Teaching degree at the University of South Carolina and came to Historic Columbia after retiring from her classroom teacher position in Richland School District Two.  Her focus on building relationships in schools and in the community has supported the expansion of its programming inside and outside the classroom. When she is not working, she enjoys quilting and being outdoors with her dogs and husband Dylan.