Dustin Markey

Research Support Specialist

Dustin Markey serves as a Research Specialist at Agard Research Associates Inc., where his work centers on nationalism, regional political identity, and separatist movements. His research agenda encompasses topics such as the independence of South Sudan, separatism in the United States, and Irish unification, among other areas of geopolitical significance.

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Dustin graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2024 with Magna Cum Laude distinction and full honors from the Honors College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in European Studies and Social Studies. His academic trajectory began in high school, where he developed a strong foundation in research and analytical writing across the social sciences and humanities. During his undergraduate career, he produced research spanning a broad chronological and thematic range, from Ancient Egypt to the American Civil Rights Movement. One notable project examined the cultural erosion of Southern identity in the United States, in which he argued that historical grievances should not serve as justification for the displacement of regional culture and heritage.

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Beyond traditional academic research, Dustin brings extensive experience in living history and historical reenactment, which he regards as an essential complement to archival and textual study. His participation in reenactments of the American Civil War, the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, and the First World War has provided firsthand engagement with the material conditions, social dynamics, and human realities of armed conflict. His involvement with the 24th South Carolina Infantry reenactment unit, in particular, deepened his understanding of the American Civil War and the diverse perspectives held by descendants on both sides of the conflict.

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Dustin's combination of formal academic training, hands-on historical engagement, and policy-oriented research positions him to contribute meaningfully to the mission of Agard Research Associates Inc.