Degree: BA – History, UCA, MA and Ph.D. – Criminal Justice, UALR in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
When did you graduate? BA – 2013
What were some of the most rewarding/influential classes in your major? Dr. O’hara’s Tudor/Stuart, Dr. Little’s capstone course
Where did you live? Conway
Did you participate in any experiences outside the classroom in your major field? The living history day at the museum for Dr. Little’s capstone class in Conway has stuck with me. I had a great time and learned a lot from the lady I helped that day.
What did you plan to do with your degree? I hoped to get a graduate degree in history and teach at a local community college.
How are you using your degree? Though my Ph.D. is in criminal justice, I use my knowledge of history to understand the present. This is particularly important in criminal justice, a field where policy and practice tend to repeat the past, rather than progress.
What disciplinary skills do you use most often in your current job? The writing and researching skills I learned at UCA laid the foundation for grad school, my publications, and my day-to-day job duties.
What are your plans? What will your degree allow you to do/accomplish as you move forward? I still think about getting a graduate degree in history!
What is the most surprising/unexpected thing you learned about yourself during your time as a BA student at UCA? That I am a lot smarter than I thought. My time at UCA informed my decision to go to graduate school and the belief that I could do it.
What advice would you give someone who wants to get a BA in history? Pick a topic in history you are really interested in, so the coursework doesn’t feel like work.