As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Sean T. from Arlington, Massachusetts. Sean is an American Studies Major with a Minor in Criminal Justice.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I play on the Men’s lacrosse team at SAC; in my free time I love watching and playing hockey. . . also a huge fan of movies
Why did you become an American Studies major? I chose American Studies to better understand the social landscape and ideological differences in the United States.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as an American Studies major? I will always remember the immense support of Professor Andrew Moore.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? President John F. Kennedy.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? The Roaring 20’s in New York City.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I am enrolled in the Saint Anselm Criminal Justice Master’s program; upon completion I will pursue a career in the field of law.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Katherine W. from Rochester, New York. Katherine is an American Studies Major with a Minor in Accounting.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? My favorite hobbies are reading, crafting, and singing, especially singing in the Saint Anselm College Choir.
Why did you become an American Studies major? I became an American Studies major because I was interested in American History, but also wanted to explore as many fields as I could while at Saint A’s. American Studies is an interdisciplinary major and for my major, I was able to take classes in six different departments. American Studies was the perfect major to let me explore different fields and different disciplines while figuring out what I’m most interested in for a career.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? In my Intro to American Studies class, we read Black No More by George Schuyler, which has really stuck with me and is now one of my favorite books.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as in the History department? One of my favorite memories as an American Studies major was going up to the third floor of Joseph Hall where the history professor’s offices are and saying “hi” to all of them. I’ve missed being able to stop by and chat with the amazing professors of the history department over the past three semesters. They really are some of the most supportive, kind, and funny people on campus.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? I would have to say Jimmy Carter because I was able to do some really interesting research with Professor Moore on Carter’s post-presidential career.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? I would definitely live in the 1960s and 70s. This time period was my favorite to learn about in my history classes and in my other American studies classes because of everything going on domestically and internationally. It was a bit of a mess, but I would love to experience everything first-hand rather than just reading about it in class.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I really want to work for nonprofits and use the skills I learned at Saint A’s to help others and make an impact on the world.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Sara A. from Bow, New Hampshire.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, and embroidering. This summer my goal is to learn how to roller skate!
Why did you become a history major? I became a history major because I was inspired by my high school history teachers. They taught history in a way that made the subject fun to learn, so I decided to dedicate another four years to that same pursuit of fun!
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? One book that will stick with me is a novel from the course Modern China. To Live, by Yu Hua, is short but deeply impactful. Not only does it portray the changes in China throughout the twentieth century, but it also sends a message to the reader about the importance of family. The writing is so simple, but boy did it make me cry!
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? A fond memory I have is taking History of Food and Drink with Professor Masur. I took it during the first semester of my freshman year, which was the perfect way to begin my time as a history major. We had a small Thanksgiving feast while learning about the holiday’s history and misconceptions, and we ate Chinese food while watching a documentary about General Tso’s Chicken.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? The most intriguing figures I learned about were Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two female pirates from the eighteenth century.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? I would live in Russia during the reign of Peter the Great. I think it would have been fascinating to witness the country’s transformation as it became westernized.
Do you have any plans after graduation? This summer I’ll be leaving for my year of service at the Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I’ll be the school librarian and possibly the art teacher as well!
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Declan K. from West Hartford, Connecticut. Declan is a History Major with a Minor in German Studies.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? Hiking, trail-running, and backpacking. I especially enjoy winter hiking in the White Mountains. In the fall I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia. I also enjoy trivia and hope to compete on Jeopardy in the future.
Why did you become a history major? I had a great US history teacher in high school, and the writing and critical reading skills needed for historical thinking appealed to me. I initially considered going to another school to study forestry, but I ultimately decided that I wanted to attend Saint Anselm. I was close to entering undecided, but when I had my first history class I was certain I had made the right choice with history.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? Emperor of China by Jonathan Spence. It is a sort of autobiography of the Chinese Kangxi Emperor, compiled by Spence from the Emperor’s personal writings. The book personalizes the Emperor and provides a uniquely intimate look into the life of a powerful ruler. Historical figures can sometimes feel distant and inaccessible, so it was very enjoyable to hear the Emperor’s thoughts about ruling, hunting, and the proper way to consume kumis (fermented mare’s milk).
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? I will fondly remember Professor Pajakowski’s great lectures and many “Paj-isms.” One of my favorites was: (referring to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire) “You’ve got lots of dukes everywhere. You got the Duke of This, the Duke of That, and the Duke of Whatever. Well Napoleon comes through, and now you’re the Duke of Nothing.” You had to be there.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? I found Nikita Khrushchev very interesting because of his contradictory personality, and partly because of the many great Paj-isms he inspired. Some classics include: “The guy just loved corn,” and “There’s nice Nikita––and bad Nikita.”
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? Tsarist Russia and 20th-century Eastern Europe don’t really appeal to me, so I’m going to have to go with the 1960s. I am a big fan of late-’60s music and would like to see some of my favorite bands perform live. I wouldn’t be too thrilled about potentially getting drafted into the Vietnam War though.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I am working at The Notch Hostel in the White Mountains for the summer. In the future I hope to work in outdoor education and conservation.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Abbie D. from Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Abbie is a History and Secondary Education double major.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I enjoy spending time with my friends, calligraphy, and needlepoint.
Why did you become a history major? I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but I had to decide my content. Something that has always fascinated me is the connections between the past and present. A lot of people don’t understand how intertwined the past and present truly are. I decided I wanted to teach history/social studies to help others make those connections and create an understanding as to why the past is important.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? One book from a history class that will stick with me is Cornelius Bynum’s A. Philip Randolph and the Struggle for Civil Rights from The Civil Rights Movement. It really changed my perspective on the mainstream Civil Rights Movement and all the events that came before it. This book opened my eyes to a lot of events and people that I didn’t realize played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? One memory that will always stick with me is Professor Salerno’s reading seminar last spring. Her transition to remote instruction was almost seamless and she took the time to make sure we were all doing well. It made me realize that I was lucky to have professors who cared so much.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? The most intriguing historical figure I learned about was actually an average man named Ruberwa. Ruberwa was a man who lost everything in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Ruberwa’s story of heartbreak and tragedy has stuck with me for the past 2 years.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? I would live in Ancient Greece during the rise of Alexander the Great. I think it would be a fascinating time to experience firsthand.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I hope to teach middle school social studies. I did my student teaching in a 7th grade classroom and really enjoy the curiosity of that age group.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Nelson G. from Stratham, New Hampshire. Nelson is a History Major with a Minor in Theology.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I enjoy playing the piano and watching Marvel and Star Wars.
Why did you become a history major? When I first came to Saint Anselm College, I was a Theology Major, but I soon learned that my favorite aspect of my studies was learning the history of the church. This is where my love of history came from, and I decided to broaden my studies by majoring in history.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? I really enjoyed Room at the Top [by John Braine] from Europe Since 1945, but a very close second is [Emile Zola’s] Thérèse Raquin from Modern Europe.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? This is not directly related to my experience as a history major, but I believe my trips to England and Spain with the Saint Anselm Choir would not have been as enriching if I hadn’t discovered a love of history. However, a fond memory that is directly related to my time as a history major is the time I spent as a paleographer with Professor Perrone. This was my first history related job and something I will always remember.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? I think my favorite historical figure is Alexander the Great. Whenever I learn about him it just excites me. His accomplishments were unparalleled and to think that anybody could do what he did is just so interesting to me.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? I think to live during the birth of the church, around the year 0 would be an amazingly interesting (albeit dangerous) time to live. To learn the true origins of the church and Christianity in general would be amazing.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I would love to obtain an internship at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but would be happy doing any kind of museum work. In addition to this I have always wanted to start my own Youtube channel, either about playing the piano or playing video games.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Kara S. from Westwood, Massachusetts.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? Theater and Music
Why did you become a history major? I have always been fascinated by history and I wanted to better understand it
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? The annual semester gatherings with food and books because of the new people you get to meet
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? Catherine the Great
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? Probably the 1960’s in the U.S. so I could witness the civil rights movement and help fight alongside the protestors.
Do you have any plans after graduation? Finding a library job and spending time with my dog.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Chris M. from Reading, Massachusetts. Chris is a History and Secondary Education double major.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I really enjoy playing and watching all different types of sports. It has been nice to finally be able to attend some games here on the Hilltop the past few weeks. I recently started to get back into collecting baseball cards. I am hoping to spend some time this summer organizing my collection and get back out on the hunt for some new cards. Lastly, I hope to run another half-marathon this Fall and, sometime soon, complete a full marathon.
Why did you become a history major? I became a history major simply because I enjoyed learning about the subject. Perhaps more interestingly, I stayed a history major for two reasons: I wanted to study the human person and I wanted to discover the truth.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement by Akinyele Omowale Umoja (New South) and Don’t Blame Us: Suburban Liberals and the Transformation of the Democratic Party by Lily Geismer (a book I used to write my thesis in the Research Seminar). Both books really opened my eyes and helped me to gain a more complete and more truthful understanding of the respective subjects they explore.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? How impactful each of my professors were; they exemplified care, passion, and intentionality both in and out of class.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? I took a theology course, Christian Spirituality, in which we studied pivotal players in Church history such as St. Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Theresa of Avila, and St. Jane de Chantal. However, the two figures who I thought to be most interesting were St. Francis de Sales and Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection. While St. Francis de Sales is well-known, Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection is not. Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection was a 17th century Carmelite lay brother in France. I find him interesting and intriguing for the life he lived and the simplicity he expressed in his writing about Christian spirituality.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? I tried thinking of a time and place of peace and stability but few, if any, come to mind. So, if I had to choose, I’ll be like most and go with the 60’s.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I plan to utilize my majors and teach social studies at the secondary level. Soon, I would like to go to grad school and seek an advanced degree in the field of education.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Jordan C. from Biddeford, Maine. Jordan is a double major in History and Politics.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? Cross-Country, breakdancing, skiing, hiking, and searching for general knowledge
Why did you become a history major? I one day aspire to be a public servant in the Federal Government who brings positive institutional change. In order to bring positive changes in the present, one must understand those who brought changes in the past. Studying history has allowed me to do that.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? Definitely Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder. Eastern European history is a topic I didn’t know much about and Snyder’s book helped touch on the topic. I’ve also watched some of his lectures in the past on American society that were extremely informative. Professor Pajakowski also is an extremely funny professor (as is the rest of the history department) and kept things extremely entertaining when talking about the topics in Bloodlands when teaching Modern East Europe.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? Definitely my history capstone with Professor Salerno. We covered the history of American Citizenship and the topics were extremely relevant and interesting. Arguably I learned the most in this class and learning about citizenship taught me a lot about my place in America in a historical context.
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam War with Professor Masur. I did not know that he was inspired by so many international figures outside of standard communism. For example, George Washington was an inspirational figure to Ho Chi Minh.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I intend to go to graduate school, hopefully studying Public Policy.
As we wrap up the 2020-21 academic year, we thought it would be nice to have a little feature for each of our graduating seniors.
Today’s featured student is Maria G. from Augusta, Maine. Maria is a History Major with Minors in Philosophy and Russian Area Studies.
What are your favorite hobbies or activities? I love to play the violin, read, draw, and debate with friends.
Why did you become a history major? I became a history major because the expansion of public history and pursuit of historical truth inspire me. This has ultimately led me to pursue two internships with historical societies which have allowed me to help expand public access to information which might have otherwise been lost to time.
What is one book from a history class that will stick with you? Anna Karenina was one of the most memorable reads of my entire college career. Re-reading this masterpiece as a young adult rather than a teen was an enlightening experience, and I found myself in awe of Tolstoy’s understanding of human psychology.
What is a fond memory you will have about your time as a history major? Though it was a difficult and often stressful time, I look back on the fall of my junior year and the process of writing my thesis fondly. I was able to write about a severely under researched demographic of women, present my research at a state conference, and make several lifelong bonds with my peers along the way, all of which made the struggle worthwhile!
Who was the most interesting or intriguing historical figure that you learned about while at Saint Anselm? The 16th-century Venetian poet and courtesan Veronica Franco is a fascinating figure due to the intersection of her humanist education and struggles as a sex worker. This makes her both highly articulate yet also direct about the difficulties of surviving as a woman in Renaissance Italy. Her surviving works place her as one of the earliest proto-feminists, and there is currently a case being made that she should be considered to be one of the first feminists. Using verse, she would publicly rebuff and humiliate men who would speak ill of her—a method which was unheard of at the time.
If you could live in a time and place that you studied, what would it be? For the sake of art, culture, and aesthetics alone, I would have liked to live during the reign of Catherine the Great.
Do you have any plans after graduation? I will be attending law school in the fall but have not yet decided which institution I will commit to.
