Dr. Carol Ebel obtained her B.A. at Georgia Southern College, her Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Her dissertation, "First Men: Leadership Patterns on the Virginia and Georgia Frontiers, 1642-1814", studies two prominent families, Taliaferro and Matthews, in colonial Virginia and in Georgia. Her fields of study include the southern frontier, Ulster Scots immigration, Georgia history, colonial America, and the Early Republic. She also retains an interest in archival preservation as well as public history and frequently provides assistance to local historical organizations. Her current research expands the study of the Virginia and Georgia frontiers to include an analysis of self and community identity in those regions.