I’m Isabella, and I’m a proud UC alum, class of 2019! I graduated with a BA in History and a BA in International Relations! The history department was my academic home, and I really found myself through its classes and was nurtured by my professors!
What are you up to these days?
After attending UC, I went to Oxford University for my Master’s and got into Oxford for my Doctorate, but I have decided to write historical monographs with a commercial publisher instead! I still live in England with my fiancé, two dogs, and a cat, and I am currently an editor at an academic publisher (we’re called AM Digital if you’re interested)! We digitize archival materials for publication in databases! We work with places like the National Archives (UK), the British Library, and universities and archives around the US!
What brought you to history at UC?
I was originally a minor in history, having always loved history, but Dr. Campos made some really compelling arguments for making it into a major, and I never looked back!
What did you focus on as a history student at UC?
I focused on Latin American history, specifically Cold War Brazil and its dictatorial history and experiences!
Did you have any favorite history courses? Which ones and why?
Anything with Dr. Leavitt-Alcantara, Dr. Campos, and Dr. Sunderland! They were incredible professors, and I was incredibly lucky to be able to learn from them!
What did you focus on in your capstone and why?
I focused on middle-class experiences during the Brazilian military dictatorship, especially in the context of the 2018 election of Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro very famously denied the dictatorship, claiming it was not a dictatorship and was very beneficial for the country. I wanted to investigate whether those in the middle class, who formed the bulk of his electoral base, remembered the dictatorial years in the same ways he did!
What skills did you pick up from studying history that have served you well beyond your courses?
I can point to three skills the UC History department nurtured and have served me well academically and professionally: critical thinking and approaches to primary and secondary sources, research skills, and a fundamental curiosity towards the world and its history.
Have any advice for current students?
Really cherish and take seriously your time at the department. All the professors in the department are world-class (and I feel qualified to say that), and you are better students, academics, and people, for being able to learn from and be mentored by them!
