I graduated from UC in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a cross-college major in History, and a minor in Political Science. I recently graduated in 2023 with my MA in Higher Education Administration. I currently live in Covington, Kentucky, and I love spending my free time reading, watching movies, and trying out new restaurants.
What are you up to these days?
I am an academic advisor at UC for the College of Education. I advise campus-based education students as they follow their academic journey toward being licensed educators. While I am not teaching social studies anymore, I have enjoyed pursuing a new journey in higher education, advising students who share the same passion I have for teaching.
What brought you to history at UC?
I was pursuing my undergraduate degree in secondary education when my academic advisor recommended I look into a cross-college major in history. Many of my degree requirements aligned with the history major, so I was able to graduate with two majors by taking only a few more courses. I truly love history, so adding a few more history courses to my schedule was a pleasure.
What did you focus on as a history student at UC?
My degree program required me to take a wide variety of history courses, so I feel like I got to experience all types of history from many different cultures and parts of the world. However, when I had elective choices, I tended to lean towards human rights and U.S. foreign relations history.
Did you have any favorite history courses? Which ones and why?
Two different courses come to mind when I think about my favorites.
The first is HIST 3023: Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Relations II, taught by Dr. Stephen Porter. This was my first experience in a history course discussing human rights, and I was instantly enthralled by the course content and discussions we would have during class time. This course ultimately led me to find a focus area I wanted to pursue and helped shape my capstone topic. I also got to know Dr. Porter, and he became one of my favorite professors.
My second favorite was HIST 4066: The Golden Age of Islamic Civilization – The Abbasid Caliphate, taught by Dr. Robert Haug. This course was so unlike other courses I had taken at that point in my undergraduate career. At each class meeting, I was so excited to discuss what we had read for homework because it always led to a wonderful discussion. Sometimes, I needed help understanding because it was an area of inquiry that was new to me. I could also tell Dr. Haug was very passionate about the course content, making the class even more enjoyable.
What did you focus on in your capstone and why?
I focused on human rights and U.S. foreign relations for my capstone. More specifically, I researched the U.S. response to European refugees during World War II. Originally, I was researching refugee experiences while seeking asylum in the U.S. and their ultimate relocation to Cincinnati. I was utilizing interview logs provided by a local college. Unfortunately, I could not use the resources needed to pursue this topic since COVID-19 shut down access to the library. I decided to then pivot to investigating U.S. response initiatives toward the refugee crisis during World War II, with the focus point being the Evian Conference. I chose this topic because I had learned briefly about the U.S. response to the refugee crisis during WWII, and I wanted to learn more. Dr. Porter’s Human Rights course and subsequent readings left me wanting more, and I realized that is what I wanted to focus my capstone project on.
What skills did you pick up from studying history that have served you well beyond your courses?
I learned a plethora of skills while studying history, and many of them have continued to serve me well in my career and academics. My writing and critical reading skills were sharpened throughout my time in the history program. I continue to use these skills daily in my career as an academic advisor, and they have helped tremendously while I was pursuing my master’s degree. Studying history also taught me that I need to continue to be curious, especially in the pursuit of education. I also learned the invaluable skill of questioning authority and a willingness to ask questions that lead to a fuller understanding of a topic.
Have any advice for current students?
Believe in your abilities and always remind yourself that you belong in college. There were many times during my undergraduate and graduate program when I felt inadequate academically. This feeling is so common among college students, but every time I thought I was not writing well or wouldn’t do well on an exam, I would come out with a grade I was happy with, and that is all that matters. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help when needed. We all need support from time to time and knowing when to ask for it is a strength, not a weakness.
Find your passion. It is always easier said than done, but spend your time in college and in the history program to find what you are passionate about. Once you find that passion, hold on to it and follow wherever it may lead you!
