Sean Nelson is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and first-year M.A. student in the History Department. Sean’s research is primarily focused on the history of American Freemasonry in Colorado, specifically Fort Collins and the Georgetown area. Additionally, Sean is currently working on a project analyzing the promotion patterns, rating composition, and complexion descriptions of Black sailors in the Union Navy’s Mississippi Squadron during the American Civil War. Further, he is involved with the Art of Ranching, a collaborative community history project that connects 4-H youth, local ranchers, historians, and the CSU extension office to preserve the rich history of Colorado’s historic ranches.