Foundation Award for Service

Dr. Julia Troche

Dr. Julia Troche

History
Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities

I. Philosophy of Service

In my service, I am guided by my key values of authenticity, transparency, respect, and self-reflection. I draw on a service philosophy that can be characterized by two concepts: Empower & Elevate.

Empower: I seek to educate and provide skills, knowledge, and support to my campus, regional, and international scholarly community as a means of empowerment. First and foremost, I want everyone I serve to be treated with dignity and to feel seen, heard, and valued. Through our encounters, though, I also want people to ultimately be more capable of advocating for themselves and others, and enacting change in their/our communities. Not to be entirely trite, but Ghandi said that “we but mirror the world,” and “if we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” My service thus centers individual agency, as well as community building.

Elevate: Drawing on many features of “access-based community development,” I seek to elevate those I work with, founded on the ideal that ‘a rising tide lifts all ships.’ Thus, I serve by uplifting those around me, celebrating our existing strengths, and taking a pragmatic approach to progress, focusing on how we can be productive with available resources.

II. Examples of service including service to University, discipline and community

The service I am most proud of, and that I think has had the greatest impact, includes the varied mentorship I have done whether through campus academic advising, faculty-facing Bear Bridge, or by co-chairing the Caroyln Midkiff Strange Committee for Growth, Visibility, and Innovation for the American Society of Overseas Research (international research center and national 501c3). One of my most challenging accomplishments was founding a 501c3 non-profit to serve the Ozarks region, beginning in 2020, called the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), Missouri Chapter. My contribution has perhaps been most notable when I get to serve as a representative for my department or college, such as I have for Missouri State University’s President’s Executive Budget Committee, College Council, Faculty Senate, and Strategic Plan Working Group (2024-25) and Implementation Group (2025-26). Last, but certainly not least, my work with ARCE (international cultural institution in Egypt, and national 501c3) has been profound for me as it is the ultimate in terms of career goals; I sat on the Board for the past four years and was the most recent Chair of the Annual Meeting for my professional conference.

Below is a full list of the service committees on which I have sat over the past nine years in service to my university, profession, and regional community.

Missouri State University (2017-2026)

I have served on the following committees at Missouri State University since my arrival in 2017. Many of these committees I have served on for multiple years or terms. These represent committees that are Department, College, and University-wide.

  • President’s Executive Budget Committee
  • Experiential Learning Strategic Plan Implementation Committee
    • April 2026: Awarded the “Pilot Powerhouse Award” for building a full pilot project funding process in record time, organizing submissions, and championing the grant from start to finish.
  • Strategic Planning Working Group: Branding and Identity
  • Digital Humanities Lab Faculty Advisory Committee
  • Faculty Senate Representative
  • College Council
  • General Education Revision Committee
  • Bear Bridge Mentor (2 mentees)
  • History Club (student group), Faculty Co-Advisor
  • Ancient Worlds Club (student group), Faculty Advisor
  • Citizenship and Service-Learning Committee Member (RCASH Rep)
  • Departmental Committees: 4 Search Committees, Personnel Committee, Development and Social Media Committee, Graduate Curriculum, Undergraduate Curriculum, Undergraduate Coordinator, Museum Studies, History-Track Advisor, Ancient Worlds Certificate Advisor, Middle East Minor Committee Member
  • Co-organizer of the Cultures and Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean Lecture Series
  • Presidential Scholar Interviews
  • History Day Judge
  • Safe Zone Advisory Board, Faculty Representative
  • Taskforce on Affordability and Accessibility of Textbooks

Profession

I have served my professional field most notably through significant leadership roles in multiple professional 501(c)3 organizations over the past decade:

  • American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE)
    • Primary professional organization for Egyptology (the study of Egyptian history and cultural heritage)
    • Membership-elected Governor of the Board (2022-2026)
    • Annual Meeting Committee Chair (2024-2026)
    • Membership and Outreach Taskforce Chair (2024-2026)
    • Academic Oversight Committee Chair (2022-2023)
    • Development Committee Member (2019-2024)
  • American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR).
    • ASOR is the primary professional organization for archaeology of the Near/Middle Eastern world and the surrounding regions (i.e. North Africa and Middle East and beyond).
    • I am current co-chair for ASOR’s Carolyn Midkiff Strange Committee for Growth, Innovation, and Visibility.
    • Served as chair of the archaeology of Egypt sessions for 3 years.
    • Currently sit on ASOR’s Strategic Planning Taskforce.
  • Peer Reviewer for Academic Presses, e.g.:
    • American University in Cairo Press
    • Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections
    • Cambridge University Press monographs
    • UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
    • Journal of Field Archaeology
    • National Geographic Society Archaeology Grants
    • Getty Research Journal
    • Advances in Archaeological Practice

Community

  • ARCE-Missouri Chapter
    • Independent non-profit affiliated with ARCE National; I co-founded this organization in 2020, incorporated it in the state of Missouri and attained non-profit status
    • I have served continuously since 2020 as President, Vice President, and (currently) Board Director.
    • Co-founded and contributing organizer of the annual Missouri Egyptological Symposium (since 2018).
    • ARCE-MO offers a wide range of free public programs in person in various cities in Missouri as well as online. One example is a “A Brief History of Beer” event hosted at Mother’s Brewing (Springfield, MO) in September 2023.
  • Public Historian
    • Presented over 40 public-facing presentations since joining Missouri State University in 2017.
    • Numerous podcast recordings, public lectures, workshops, and trainings for the broader community as well as online resource development
    • Co-curated with B. Brinkman (non-remunerated) the exhibition Ancient Artifacts Abroad for Springfield Art Museum (2023-2024)

III. Future Commitment to Service

As I look forward, I hope to invest more and more in service and leadership opportunities at Missouri State University and within the Springfield community. I will always be an advocate for undergraduates, graduate students, and contingent faculty, but also hope to contribute to faculty mentorship and development, increasing communication and community among faculty and staff, and making education both more accessible and joyful.

IV. Topics related to service for which you are available for presentations and/or consultations

  • Public Affairs and Service-Learning
  • Public History and Digital Humanities
  • Professional Development & Self Advocacy (faculty-facing)
  • Job Readiness: Understanding the Academic and Non-Academic Markets (student-facing)
  • Non-profit 101: development, Board culture, project management
  • Volunteer Leadership: Challenges and Best Practices