Why did you choose UNI? 

Affordability, school size, and flexibility. 

What have you enjoyed the most about attending UNI? 

Relatively small class sizes, many opportunities for internships and professional experiences, and getting involved in a variety of student organizations. 

How did you become interested in your major at UNI? 

In high school, I knew that I wanted a career that bettered society and I also had developed a passion for the social sciences, so History/Social Studies teaching seemed like a good fit for me.

How have you been involved outside of the classroom? 

• I studied abroad in Costa Rica during the whole summer of 2024.
• I got to travel to Paris, France and Taipei, Taiwan through the Model United Nations Competition Team!
• Organizations I did internships at during my time at UNI include Cedar Falls Historical Society, the Grout Museum, and Fortepan.us.
• I did my student teaching in the Minneapolis suburbs.
• My honors thesis was about how high school US History textbooks and related online materials teach the Philippine-American War and subsequent US occupation of the Philippines. That paper has been downloaded 80+ times since it was published and I’m hopeful that it has positively contributed to research and educational efforts. 

What professors have been most influential through your time here at UNI?

Dr. Brian Roberts (emeritus), Dr. Brian Warby, Chad Christopher

What are your post-graduation plans? 

Until I apply for graduate school to pursue a PhD in history or political science (fingers crossed) I plan on teaching history and social studies around the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. I’m in the process of teaching job applications right now! In the very near future, I’m traveling to Namibia with other social studies teaching professionals on a Fulbright-GPA scholarship.

How has UNI/your major helped prepare you for these plans?

I received a wide variety of experiences at UNI and I feel comfortable as a professional in many different settings. Even if I’m not super knowledgeable about a certain topic or content area, I feel confident that I have the skills now to do research and learn to teach about it. 

What advice would you give to students who are considering this major? 

You’ll get out of your courses what you put in. Surround yourself with ambitious, like-minded people who will encourage and push you forward!