Dr. Kellen Heniford is a historian and researcher who seeks to understand the past and to use that knowledge to build a better future.

Kellen (she/they) currently holds a research position on the litigation team at Everytown For Gun Safety, using her expertise in 19th century U.S. history to inform modern debates on constitutional law, and particularly the Second Amendment. As “text, history, and tradition” become increasingly important in American jurisprudence, Kellen works behind the scenes to build out the historical record for active litigation while also writing for law reviews on issues involving history and legal interpretation.

A graduate of Columbia University’s PhD program in History, Kellen has also worked and studied at Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State University. They are currently leading a long-term project through the National Park Service to bring Black history to the forefront at Delaware’s First State National Historical Park.