“Emory, and Atlanta more broadly, is a lovely place to listen to people’s stories. Their voices offer perspectives that perhaps don’t often intersect with our own daily rhythms and experiences.” – Jonathan Coulis

Jonathan Coulis is the coordinator of the Emory Oral History Program. He assumed this role after working as a Woodruff Fellow while completing his PhD. The oral history program is based around the idea of interviewing people and hearing about their life stories. “It’s all about recognizing the importance of people’s experiences and their understanding of the past and the present. We create a space and invite people to tell stories as they choose, and learn how their experiences have shaped their lives,” says Jonathan.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Jonathan earned his bachelor’s degree in history and English from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, his master’s degree in history and international development from the University of Guelph, and his PhD in modern Latin American history (focusing on Brazilian history) from Emory University. “I’ve always been interested in where things come from so I started studying commodities and then coffee, which brought me to Brazil,” says Jonathan.

While out of the office, Jonathan is beginning to learn carpentry skills. “I like the idea of doing something with my hands and getting away from of the computer.”

Regarding his new position, Jonathan notes, “The best thing about this new role is that we get to build something. And with the great support here, we will continue to grow, engage more broadly and offer resources and services to the community. Emory, and Atlanta more broadly, is a lovely place to listen to people’s stories. Their voices offer perspectives that perhaps don’t often intersect with our own daily rhythms and experiences.”

You can reach Jonathan, and learn more about oral history, at j [dot] e [dot] coulis [at] emory [dot] edu. “We’d be happy to hear from you and talk about your project ideas.”