History, Hops & the Meck Dec

Keri is a leading historian whose work bridges scholarship and storytelling to illuminate the complex history of North Carolina, especially through the lens of African American experiences in the Piedmont. As Senior Director of History and Exhibits at the Levine Museum of the New South, Petersen brings deep expertise to her role as moderator for this special conversation commemorating the 250^th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

With a Ph.D. in American History from UNC Greensboro and an M.A. in Public History from NC State, Petersen has shaped how history is curated and shared across both academic and public platforms. She has served on faculty at Johnson C. Smith University and Bennett College, and her research, focused in part on the intersection of slavery and infrastructure has earned national fellowships and recognition. She currently contributes to projects like Mecklenburg County’s Historic Latta Place Reimagined and is passionate about connecting memory with critical historical inquiry.

Scott Syfert is a corporate attorney by trade and a historian by passion. A graduate of UNC, the London School of Economics, and the University of Virginia, Syfert is co-founder of the May 20th Society, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. His book The First American Declaration of Independence? offers an in-depth exploration of the disputed document that lies at the heart of this event.

Through his scholarship and civic advocacy, Syfert has become one of the region’s most prominent voices on the legacy and historical debate surrounding the Meck Dec. His work invites both scholars and everyday citizens to consider how stories of independence and identity take shape, and why they still matter 250 years later.

Chas Fagan is a nationally acclaimed artist whose sculptures and paintings bring history to life, often at monumental scale. Based in Charlotte, Fagan is the sculptor behind The Spirit of Mecklenburg, the iconic bronze statue of Captain James Jack galloping through uptown with the 1775 declaration in hand. His ability to channel history through visual art has earned him commissions ranging from Rosa Parks and Ronald Reagan to Mother Teresa and Neil Armstrong.

A Yale graduate and self-taught artist, Fagan’s work merges historical research with artistic intuition. For this event, Fagan offers insight into how public art helps shape civic memory, and how the story of Mecklenburg’s defiant declaration continues to inspire the cultural landscape today.

David Fleming is an award-winning author and long-form journalist with a flair for uncovering overlooked and untold stories. His latest book, Who’s Your Founding Father?, dives headfirst into the mystery, controversy, and intrigue surrounding the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, revisiting 250-year-old debates with fresh eyes and fearless curiosity.

Fleming has written for Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, and Meadowlark Media, covering everything from the Super Bowl to lightsaber dueling. With humor, depth, and relentless research, he brings the spirit of investigative storytelling to the historical record, especially when it comes to uncovering whether North Carolina really beat Thomas Jefferson to the punch. His participation adds an energetic, contemporary voice to this panel as we reexamine the roots of American Independence.

His next book will be published by St Martin’s Press on October 14 entitled A Big Mess in Texas on the 1952 NFL Dallas Texans.