See what SU History alumni do after graduation!

Melissa Betts, '02

Lora Woodford, '04

Lora is a Hagley Fellow in the University of Delaware's Department of History. She writes:

Susquehanna's small class sizes meant that I was never able to be an anonymous face in my upper level history classes. Unlike at larger universities (or even larger departments at Susquehanna), I couldn't get through my classes without posing questions, expressing my opinions, or being a participatory member of the class. I didn't really think this experience was that unusual until I made it to graduate school.

While I routinely told my friends and family that the history department at Susquehanna was one of my favorite parts of the school, I didn't have any indication of how it would measure up to other departments once I was outside of Selinsgrove. To my pleasant surprise, while the workload is undoubtedly heavier, the intellectual foundation that I need to succeed in graduate classes had already been imparted on me by my classes at Susquehanna.

I encourage any and all students interested in history to attend Susquehanna. I can now say with absolute certainty that Susquehanna's program is truly top-notch. You won't graduate with a degree in history from Susquehanna without knowing how to think and critically analyze -- and that will serve anyone well, in graduate school or wherever you choose.

Matt Davis and Lora Woodford

Matt Davis, '03

Matt Davis is a doctoral student in the University of Delaware's Department of Political Science. He writes:

The SU history department emphasizes two areas which are crucial to success in graduate school - writing and critical thinking. While I didn't necessarily want the extra work at the time, now that I have entered the graduate world I really appreciate the ways that the SU history program helped me to hone my writing. The only way to get better is to practice, and I certainly received plenty of opportunities to do so at SU. Graduate level work is a bit more demanding, but I still feel much more prepared than many of my peers.

Just having good writing skills already has given me a leg up on everyone else, but far more important (and somewhat more intangible) are the critical thinking and analysis skills than I learned at Susquehanna. I was taught how to construct clear, concise, and persuasive arguments. This skill will take you far, even if you don't end up going on to graduate school - it's the basic foundation that you need for almost any type of "thinking" job (and a surprising number of people just don't know how to do it).

In addition to these two academic skills, Susquehanna's small school atmosphere ironically made the transition to graduate life a bit easier. Large schools tend to promote a degree of separation between the student and instructor - they're more likely to know you by your social security # than your name. At Susquehanna, the amount of interaction between student and professor tends to tear down that wall a bit. Once you get to graduate school, it's important to be able to comfortably work with and have good relationships with the faculty. Having already had that experience at Susquehanna made the transition all that much easier.

Chris Corsig '81

Melissa Bryant '96

SU provided a very personalized and thorough education. The relationships that I formed with faculty and staff at SU allowed me numerous opportunities after graduation. I was very active on campus and loved being part of campus life. After graduation, I went to work as an Archives Technician at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. A year later, I moved to Tuscaloosa, AL to pursue a Masters Degree in History at the University of Alabama. My thesis was directed by Dr. Forrest McDonald and was on the Pennsylvania and Continental Navies that defended the Delaware River in the Revolution. I taught World and American History at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL, where I realized that history was a love but much more of a hobby than a career for me. At that point, I moved back into higher education at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY where I was Coordinator of Housing. For the last four years I have been at Southern Methodist University where I am the Conference and Leadership Development Coordinator.

Dave Cashour '82

The SU History Department Faculty helped me to develop research and writing skills I still employ. Those skills help me to locate and communicate with prospective and current clients, by asking questions and digging deep to find answers. I am the Founder and Director of Sales of Resolute Digital Printing. As an intern, I wrote the first History of the New Jersey State Archives. Work hard, have fun, help others along the way. Keep an open mind as to a career path. You never know where you might end up.

Kyle Boudreau '05

I am a sales representative with ActiveHealth Management in New York City, and in the future I will be selling our product out to corporations, employers, and insurance providers. I will be traveling within the United States. ActiveHealth Management is a technology-driven health management and data analytics company that helps health plans and self-insured employers take full advantage of evidence-based medical knowledge to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. Leveraging its patented CareEngine platform, the company combines clinical expertise with innovative medical information technology to enable doctors and patients to work together to improve overall health outcomes. It is an exciting and interesting field and I enjoy my work very much.

Most important for me [in the SU history department] was the ability to gather a great deal of background information from different sources that is relative to each other. When I started my senior thesis I made sure that each of my sources, while different in subject matter, tied into one another. It allowed me to flow through my thesis and sound like I knew what I was doing. Other than that I would say don't be afraid to ask questions even if they sound dumb. If you start asking questions now later in life it will be easier for you to do, especially when starting a new career in which you know very little about. People appreciate questions because they may stimulate something that wasn't thought of before and also can help you get things right the first time instead of constantly having to edit your work.

Melissa (Poinsett) Flaherty '02

I finished my masters program in May 2004. I loved grad school and was so sad to leave. I had a fellowship for the first year and was a teaching assistant for the second. That was a challenge. :) I made the most wonderful friends and was excited to find a place where I really fit in. Since then things have been kind of wild! I got married in April and have since moved to DC. Tom and I live in Alexandria and love it here. Tom is in the military, so we will only be here for a couple of years. I miss SU, especially in the fall.

Gail D. Mason

After several years working as a paralegal for the U.S. Department of Justice, I earned my J.D. Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. I am currently a Senior Attorney with the Office of General Counsel for the Secretary of Defense. I work in the Standards of Conduct Office and also serve as a Deputy Designated Agency Ethics Official. My office manages the ethics program for personnel of the Department of Defense and coordinates ethics matters with the Services.

How did majoring in history at Susquehanna prepare me for the future? It gave me a broad understanding of life today because I understood how nations developed and why they take the positions they do. It also developed research and writing skills and an appreciation for nuances of gray. It is important to realize that different people may interpret the same historical event differently, depending on their perspective and how they may want to use that information. It's important not only to learn about historical events and to understand how they influence what happens today, but also to learn to evaluate how people use those events, both in the past and to influence actions today.

Tim Mee '90

After graduating from Susquehanna, I immediately obtained my state licenses in insurance and began working for State Farm. In 1994, I became a State Farm agent.  I have recently started to work toward obtaining the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation. 

Majoring in history at Susquehanna really helped me to prepare for my future.  Dr. Longaker and Dr. Reuning had a very positive influence on my life and taught me to "always dig deeper" to get a better understanding of what I was studying.  I  consistently applied that advice at SU, and in the 12 years since I graduated.  Also, I learned to work smart, not hard.  I learned to stay organized and that has also helped me in my career.

I would advise that all history majors take business courses and more fine arts courses.  Not everyone who majors in history will teach. I am a prime example of that. I wish I had taken some business courses prior to starting my own business!  

Elizabeth Bussman Mahler '77

I am currently a Grants Facilitator with the Howard County Public School System, Howard County, MD. I have never regretted getting a degree in history, even though I haven't directly used it in the "history" arena. The research, organization, analysis, and writing skills that are inherent in writing history papers have been critical to every job I have held, and often set my work apart from the crowd. Excellent preparation for critical thinking on the job!

Follow your heart in terms of looking for your future - understand and hone the skills that it takes to do well as a history major (assuming you picked the major because you like to use them) and make sure you can use those skills in whatever profession you go after. Days at work are very long and tiresome if you don't love what you are doing! And never stop learning!

Jennifer Gamble Allebach '79

Upon graduation I secured a job at the Atwater Kent Museum in Philadelphia, PA where I was the assistant registrar for the 1980 opening. I was in charge of the inter-museum loan program and was trained by the Philadelphia Art Museum in Metal conservation which was conducted in-house for the opening.

After that job concluded (1980) I became a National Park Service Ranger, at Independence National Historical Park, in Philadelphia, providing visitor interpretation at Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Franklin Court, The Graff House, The Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery, and the Visitor Center. I developed the Teacher Resource Guide for visiting school groups, was on special assignment each summer as the Children's Interpreter (Doing first person interpretation in period dress). I was on the Special Attention Request Team which was the team who hosted the dignitary visits to the Park, including Presidents, and other governmental officials, and foreign Royalty.

It was in 2001 that I was hired by the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center to be their first Educator. A new 3.7 million dollar museum opened in May 2001 and my job is to develop and implement the programming for people from preschool-on up. By looking at the Web site you can see how we collaborate with school districts, service organizations and offer children's programming (my favorite) throughout the year.

I am probably not the norm when you look at what history majors end up doing professionally, unless they teach. I still pinch myself each day when I come to work. My education at Susquehanna through courses, internships, work-study and interaction with fellow students and professors, allowed me to focus on the origins, causes and background of the history I have interpreted to the public throughout my professional career. My advice is to continue to engage in history if not, professionally after college, then by volunteering in a museum or other venue. We need interested and educated volunteers in the museum world!