Mackenzie Tor ’18, Graduate Student, Department of History, University of Missouri
When I reflect on my time as a history student at Providence College, I feel grateful for how thoroughly it has prepared me for where I am now. Coursework in subjects ranging from East Asia to the American Revolution has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of history and the challenges it poses. Discussing various influential primary and secondary sources with the department’s brilliant faculty helped sharpen my critical thinking, which in turn has shown me the need for continually re-examining the past. With the support of many professors, this is precisely what I’ve set out to do by continuing my historical education.
Perhaps what most resonated with me during my time at Providence College was the encouragement from my professors to pursue independent research. Dr. Andrews, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Weimer all cultivated my interest in hands-on history, especially while I wrote my senior honors thesis. This emphasis on research was the initial spark for my desire to study history at the graduate level. Although this is just the beginning my career as a historian, I am confident in the sturdy foundations the Providence College History Department has imparted to me for embracing whatever opportunities arise in the future.
