Future Plans of Some of our Graduate Seniors!
Congratulations to the Class of 2020! The Department of History and Classics is proud of our graduating seniors’ hard work and success. As a result of their profound dedication and passion for their work, we are confident in their potential to accomplish big things in the future! From joining the workforce to continuing their education, here are some of the plans our students have in store.
Shannon Moore
Perhaps I am a bit biased, but I think that History and Classics has some of the most dedicated, compassionate, and knowledgeable faculty on campus. The professors are always proud of their students’ accomplishments and show a genuine interest in student success, both in the classroom and in the professional or postgraduate world. I think I speak for many of my fellow senior History =majors when I say that it has been a joy and an honor to learn from such high achieving, personable, and humble scholars. I had the privilege of writing a senior thesis with the help of Fr. David Orique and Dr. Jennifer Illuzzi, whose invaluable guidance helped me to hone my research and analysis skills as I prepare for future academic and professional undertakings. In August, I will begin law school at Notre Dame, and I am so grateful for the opportunities that my PC History education has afforded me for postgraduate life. Thank you to my peers and professors in History and Classics for making PC feel like home!
Matthew McGurn
I am so excited to be continuing my education at Providence College! I was accepted into the Providence Alliance for Catholic Teachers Master’s Program. As a part of my program, I will be teaching history at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The sense of community I felt of being a member of the History and Classics program here at Providence College was something I wanted to replicate going forward. This made my decision to join the PACT Program an easy one. Right from day one of stepping on campus, the history department was reaching out to me. One of the first days of Freshman Orientation was spent at a Pizza party hosted by the history and classics department. I got the chance to meet professors and other students in the history program. My advisor, Dr. Orquiza, was also eager to meet with me. I was surprised when he asked to pay for my lunch. I had always heard about great the professors at PC were, but this was my first time experiencing this. Dr. Orquiza and I built a great relationship right away. We started off talking about different areas in history that were our favorites and soon discovered we shared a great love of baseball. Every time I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Orquiza we discussed how our teams were doing, Dr. Orquiza the Giants, and myself the Red Sox. I am so grateful for Dr. Orquiza and everything he has done for me. I became interested in history at a young age. I was obsessed with the Titanic as a kid and annoyed all my friends and relatives by spouting off fun facts about the tragic Ocean Liner. My grandmother also came up and took me around all the different areas of the American Revolution. My grandmother also had me memorize the Poem of Paul Revere’s famous ride. I am so excited to be a teacher and share my passion for history with my students. I will never be far from my home in Friartown. Go Friars!
Alexandra Stravato
After graduation, I will be working at Match Charter High School in Boston as an Associate History Teacher while completing a M.A. in Effective Teaching at Sposato Graduate School of Education. My experience as a History/Secondary Education major at Providence College has prepared me for this next step in my life and career. Through taking classes such as Dr. Mulderry’s HIS 257 (US History 1877-1939) course and participating in two Maymester programs to both Japan and Spain, I have gained the skills to become an incredibly knowledgeable and learned History teacher. Without the constant support and commitment to my education from the History Department professors such as: Dr. Manchester, Dr. Illuzzi, Dr. Jaundrill, Dr. Erginbas, Dr. Smith, Dr. Orique, Dr. Holland, Dr. Mulderry, and many more; I would not have been able to be as well-educated nor competent in History as I am. I am so thrilled to be able to share the knowledge that the PC History Department has passed along to me, with my future students! Thank you to everyone who has made my life-long dreams of becoming a History teacher possible!
Rachel Lynch
As my time at PC comes to a close, I have begun to reflect upon my experiences as a History Major and how they have prepared me for my future career. I have, of course, taken courses in a variety of subjects ―anything from the American Revolution, to Renaissance Florence, and Modern British History ― which has only enhanced my love for the discipline as a whole. Yet, perhaps the most rewarding experience of being a History Major are the skills I have developed in writing, research, and oral communications. These skills have been fostered by professors such as Dr. Smith, Dr. Siddiqui, and Dr. Huber, who have helped me become a better writer and meticulous researcher. In the process, I have developed a love for argumentation, something that is critical to success in law school. In fact, this fall I plan to attend Suffolk University Law School in Boston. While I do not yet know what type of law I would like to practice, I have full confidence that the PC History Department has exceptionally prepared me for the journey to come. And for this, I will be eternally grateful.
