I am from Chillicothe, Ohio. I love history, politics, traveling, reading, and spending time with my family and my two cats. I graduated summa cum laude in December 2022 with a B.A. in History and Political Science as well as a certificate in War, Peace, and Society.
What are you up to these days?
I am wrapping up my first semester at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. I will begin applying for a summer position in January, where I hope to gain valuable legal experience and have a better idea of what sort of legal career I would like to pursue after law school.
What brought you to history at UC?
I was very fortunate that I was right when I guessed what I wanted to do with the rest of my life at 17 years old. History had been my favorite subject throughout grade school, and I became particularly enthralled in subjects of U.S. government and history in high school. The idea of becoming a lawyer began to intrigue me in 11th grade, and I remember thinking it seemed like fate that studying history was a great pre-law major. I wanted to go to a school that was close to my family but in a big city that was far enough away that it would be full of new experiences and opportunities. Cincinnati and UC fulfilled all those requirements, and everything fell into place better than 17-year-old me ever could have even known to hope for.
What did you focus on as a history student at UC?
I didn’t formally focus on any subject in particular, but I elected to mostly take classes that focused on 20th century history throughout my time as a history student. I particularly enjoyed classes pertaining to U.S. foreign policy throughout the Cold War and took any relevant class available.
Did you have any favorite history courses? Which ones and why?
My favorite history courses were the Cold War in Latin America with Dr. Campos, the Soviet Union During WWII with Dr. Sunderland, and WWI and the World with Dr. Frierson. Looking back, these were the courses that challenged me the most. I learned so much about the subject matter of these courses and put in a considerable amount of energy to do so. It also certainly helped that the classes pertained to the period I most enjoyed learning about. It cannot go without saying that the professors really set these courses apart from the rest in my mind. I received incredible instruction and feedback from these professors. My reading, writing, presenting, and analytical skills were accelerated more in these courses than in any other.
What did you focus on in your capstone and why?
My capstone was about how the Lyndon B. Johnson administration navigated Mexican nationalism while trying to institute the Alliance for Progress. I learned about Mexican nationalism and the Alliance for Progress in my History 4000 course, the Cold War in Latin America. I wrote about the relationship between the United States, Cuba, and Mexico throughout the 1960s for my final paper in this course. Mexican nationalism was a theme that kept popping up throughout my analysis and the history of how it has affected U.S. foreign policy for the last 150 years was incredibly interesting to me.
Dr. Campos encouraged me to apply for the Summer Mentor-Mentee Award through the Taft Research Center to continue my history 4000 research throughout the summer. As I was planning what exactly my research proposal was going to be, I discovered that the historiography of Mexican nationalism and U.S. foreign policy was rich throughout most of the 20th century but was lacking as it pertained to the LBJ presidency. I was ultimately awarded the Summer Mentor-Mentee Award and the Undergraduate Enrichment Award to travel to the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas to conduct my research and work under the guidance of Dr. Campos throughout the summer. This work on Mexican nationalism during the LBJ presidency subsequently turned into my capstone project for my history and political science majors. (Apply for these awards!!)
What skills did you pick up from studying history that have served you well beyond your courses?
Learning to read efficiently, analyze complicated ideas and patterns, and write effectively have served me well in law school and will serve me well in my legal career for years to come. I have already written so many memos in my first semester of law school and going in with the skill to write in a clear and effective manner made my life so much easier and gave me a leg up on my classmates who did not have to read or write as much in undergrad. Because, truly, there is nothing worse than reading a horribly written legal opinion. Further, although the subject matter is different, I analyze complicated ideas and patterns just as much in law school as I did as a history major. Going into law school with this already well-practiced skill made it much easier for me to understand content that was otherwise entirely foreign to me.
Have any advice for current students?
I advise all students to form relationships with your professors and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the history department and the college. Your professors are there to make you a better student and they want to help you (they are so nice and approachable, I promise!). If you find a professor you really like, continue to take their courses, and go to their office hours. My most valuable experiences and awards that set me apart from other students in my class were made possible by professors who came to know me and my work.
Also…do not feel like you cannot be the person who does independent research and wins awards for your writing just because you are not the person who answers every single question in class and are not an honors student. Participation is so valuable to you and the entire class but being uncomfortable answering questions in class does not mean that you know less or will be any less successful than your peers. I undersold myself and undervalued the importance of hard work and dedication my first two years of college because I felt like there was no way I could be especially successful while surrounded by so many smart and eager learners. I was not in the honors college and seldom spoke in class yet graduated early with several awards and valuable experiences. Do not be intimidated by your classmates or the subject matter, hard work and a positive attitude is more valuable than any seemingly innate knowledge of a subject.
