What brought you to UNI?

In 2018 I graduated from both Newman Catholic High School and North Iowa Area Community College, and I knew that I wanted to go somewhere in state to pursue my Masters and UNI had both a Bachelors and Masters program in History, which would allow me to have the traditional "four year experience", so I chose UNI.

What did you enjoy most about attending UNI?

At UNI I met my amazing fiancé, Matt Barton, as well as some really great friends in my history classes and on campus. I really enjoyed all of my classes in the history program and I thought that all of the professors were really friendly and I always knew that I could talk with them if I had any questions about my courses or just wanted to talk. My thesis committee, Dr. Connors, Dr. Calderón, and Dr. Sadkowski were some of my favorite professors at UNI; I really enjoyed taking their classes and they were always very encouraging to me on my journey towards writing my Masters thesis.

How did you become interested in your program? 

Growing up, my parents would take me on vacations to historical sites and I really enjoyed learning about the past and how the past impacted the present day. Because of this, I knew that I wanted to go into a field that would further my education and knowledge about historical events. Likewise, in high school I took a history class at the local community college (NIACC), where I realized that history was the field in which I wanted to get my masters degree.

How have you been involved outside of the classroom?

I interned and worked as a graduate assistant at the UNI Special Collections and University Archives and the UNI Museum. I also interned at the Cedar Falls Historical Society.

Post-graduation plans?

I currently work as an Archivist at Thermo Fisher in Middleton, WI

How did UNI prepare you for your future career?

UNI prepared me for my future career by ensuring that I would not only have the academic understanding of history but also the practical experience. The UNI Public History program, which functions alongside the History program is a great resource for both Public History and History students to find internships and make connections with people in the history field so that students such as myself can better understand and gain experience before graduation.

What advice would you give to students currently looking into grad school?

For those looking to go into graduate school: be prepared to spend a LOT of time reading and researching, but also make sure to take time for yourself so that you don't burn out or feel too overwhelmed during the process. Remember that nobody's perfect and the journey is just as important as the destination.