Key Hartwick Activities: Hilltops Newspaper, Phi Alpha Theta, Sigma Tau Delta
Career Plans: I plan to move back to Boston and apply to the library and information science program at Simmons College—specifically in archives management with a concentration in preservation. In addition, I would like to get a master's in liberal arts and humanities at the Harvard Extension School. My dream job would be to work in the Harvard College archives.
Most Influential Class: William Faulkner and His World, taught by English professor Thomas Travisano. This class single-handedly made me an English major. I've always loved to read, and I pride myself on my library of books, but I never wanted to be an English major because I thought that literature was too close to my heart. I chose to take the class because it fit nicely into my schedule. However, by the end of the first class, I realized that the course was going to change my entire perception of Hartwick's English program. We read seven books and numerous short stories. Yet I never felt pressured by the amount of reading. Instead, I looked forward to it in hopes that I would be able to contribute to the discussion the next day, and that it would stimulate my own intellectual thoughts.
Outstanding Experience: I was referred to the Hartwick archivist, Rebekah Ambrose '90, by my history advisor. I had been in the archives only once—for a class. Though I was interested in the archives, I didn't expect the experience to change my future. After working with Rebekah for a semester, I realized how important archival work and preservation is. I used primary sources from the 1770s, looked at photographs from the 1960s, and read through years of Hilltops. Rebekah helped me every step of the way, and the skills I learned were invaluable. I realized that I want to work in the archival profession as my career.
About My Professors: There are so many great minds here. However, history professor Mieko Nishida stands out from the rest. She has challenged me the most, and her lessons have gone beyond the classroom to change the way I perceive things in my everyday life. When she first approached me about my thesis, I intended to research the life of Maggie Fox, who started the spiritualist movement. After speaking with Professor Nishida, I realized that this topic lacked a historical context that would make my research original and dynamic. With her help, I decided to research the effects of gender and power in America's Spiritualist movement and to use Maggie Fox as my case study. By doing so, Professor Nishida advised me to think and research outside my historical comfort zone. She encouraged me to talk with professors from other departments and other colleges to broaden my research. Though hesitant at first, I realized that she was teaching me the lesson that history is not stagnant and confined within its own department and scholars.
