Year Graduated? 2013 

Degree and Minors? MA History

What are you up to now? I teach World and US History part-time at JMU.

What was the most interesting/provocative thing you learned at JMU? My favorite experience was Dr. Dillard’s Civil War Workshop class during a May term. We visited several important Civil War battlefields, including Antietam and Gettysburg, and getting to walk those grounds with an expert was truly unforgettable. He also took us through museums and taught us that every museum has a “thesis.” I haven’t seen a museum in the same way since!

Which skills you developed from your study of History at JMU are most valuable to you now?  Why?Learning to think more critically and analytically are skills that we all need now more than ever. Historical inquiry has made me a more discerning consumer of media, and this is a skill I work hard to develop in my students. Having a broad understanding of history also enables us to see current events in a larger context and to understand the roots of issues that affect our lives everyday. I strongly believe that understanding history makes us better citizens.

What advice would you like to share with JMU history students now? Soak it all in while you’re here! Your JMU experience is much shorter than you realize, and I encourage you to take advantage of all the resources at your disposal. Take classes from professors who intrigue and challenge you. It’s tempting to take classes within your area of concentration, but also try to take history courses on a broad range of subjects and on other parts of the world. All historical study is valuable in understanding the world in which we live, and you will be a better historian if you study outside your specialty.