UMass Boston

Gladney's scholarship explores the intersections of political unrest, race, and historical interpretation, with particular focus on the Massachusetts Regulation (also known as Shays’s Rebellion) and the broader currents of crowd action in the late eighteenth century.

She earned her Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania in 2025, where her dissertation, “A ‘Rebellion’ Called ‘Shays’s’: The Massachusetts Regulation of 1786–1787,” examined the political underpinnings of popular protest in the early republic. Her earlier work includes a master’s thesis on Jane Johnson’s 1855 escape from slavery in Philadelphia, reflecting her longstanding commitment to uncovering stories of resistance and freedom. She has presented work from these projects at major conferences and workshops.

Gladney’s research and public history projects have been widely recognized. She has contributed to the Penn & Slavery Project since its inception, serving as a digital historian and executive tour guide, and later as a faculty advisory board member. Her work has appeared in Perspectives on History, History of Anthropology Review, and Philadelphia History Magazine, as well as in public-facing outlets such as NPR and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has also collaborated on augmented reality initiatives that bring hidden histories of slavery into public view, underscoring her dedication to innovative, accessible scholarship.

When she is not researching or teaching, Gladney crochets in her spare time.