William Gillispie is a doctoral student in the History Department. He earned a BA in History at Tulane University where his honors thesis analyzed the way slaves rebelled and resisted British occupation in Saint Lucia during the French and Haitian Revolutions. He earned his MA in History from Tulane University, transitioning his research to the role of Liberia as a participant and combatant in World War One. His current focus is on how black soldiers and intellectuals understood, participated and interacted with one another during WWI and how that led to civil rights, anti-colonial and Pan-African movements of the early 20th century.

William also earned his teacher certification in Louisiana and was a high school educator for six years. He taught Civics at Riverdale High School in Jefferson Parish, then World History, AP Psychology and AP Economics at Willow Charter School in Orleans Parish.