UCSB Alumna Betty K. Koed ’83, MA ’91, PhD ’99 retired as Historian of the United States Senate this past October 2023. She served as the first female Historian of the United States Senate and head of the United States Senate Historical Office where she started as Assistant Historian in 1998. Koed earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in History at UCSB and focused her research on U.S. political history and American political culture and public policy.
Dr. Koed’s achievements and contributions have been recognized over the years by university administration, historical organizations, and the U.S. Senate. Upon her retirement, members of Congress recognized her service through public tributes which can be accessed here and here.