Julia Akinyi Brookins joined the AHA in November 2010. She currently works on the History Gateways initiative to improve student learning and equity in introductory college history courses. She directed the nationwide AHA Tuning project, serves on the editorial board of Perspectives on History, and is part of the team that develops initiatives to advance history in education and public life. She also helps with analysis and communication about data on the history discipline. She received her undergraduate degree in history from Harvard University and a PhD in US history from the University of Chicago, with a focus on immigration and citizenship in the Southwest.