History

What were one or two of your most valuable experiences studying history as an undergraduate at TAMU-SA?

One of my most valuable experiences was getting the opportunity to present my historical research at a virtual symposium. All of the research I conducted was during Covid lockdown with limited resource options. I had never considered writing, presenting, or publishing work until I was provided with the opportunity. It is one thing to study history and an entirely different experience creating written history. I won 1st Place in the Outstanding Presentation Award and it provided me a newfound academic confidence!

How did the history program at TAMU-SA prepare you for your profession of choice?

The history program helped prepare me for the education field in many ways. In Dr. Karen Burgard’s course, she taught us how to create impactful and creative lessons that go beyond long slideshow notes every day. Additionally, she assisted in preparing me for my TExES Certification exam. Those classes significantly helped in studying content and test taking strategies.

What were your career ambitions going into college, and how did your studies at TAMU-SA shape (or reshape) those ambitions?

Going into college, I knew that I wanted to teach Social Studies. All of my professors pushed me to be better. Dr. Kiser, Dr. Galan, and Dr. Burgard all helped me explore my career options from education to graduate studies. They communicated with me virtually or in person to help me figure out what the next steps were and opened doors I had not thought were possible.

How are you currently using the knowledge and skills from your undergraduate experiences in your career?

I currently use the knowledge and skills I learned in this program in two major ways. The first thing I do with my students is build a real relationship with them. It’s hard to learn from someone you feel is not invested in you. The second is that civility is key in conversation. Every single professor instilled into me that yelling or fighting is not the way to be heard. In listening to others we may be finally able to see from their perspective, even if we don’t agree.

What advice would you give to current undergraduate students considering middle or high school teaching as a career option?

To undergraduate students considering the education field consider the following: 

• While you are in student teaching, do not just focus on your designated lessons. Ask questions about grades, classroom management, and see if you can also observe another teacher in the department to see how different classrooms run.

• You may not be teaching your favorite or most knowledgeable subject and that is fine! It is okay to not know everything.

• Your classroom is your own space. You can take the advice from more experienced teachers, but at the end of the day you know the needs of your students. What works for another teacher may not work for you.

Featured alumnus
Brianna Dzierzanowski
Class of 2020

What were one or two of your most valuable experiences studying history as an undergraduate at TAMU-SA?

My experience at TAMU-SA as a whole was valuable for me in many ways. The history department was the first department that I truly felt a part of. Each professor had a unique way of teaching and connecting with their students. The history department increased my love of history, sparked my interest in it as a career, and motivated me to continue my education. When I think back on my experience at TAMU-SA, I am overcome with nostalgia, pride, and love.

How did the history program at TAMU-SA prepare you for graduate school?

The skills that I learned in the history program at TAMU-SA set me up for success in my graduate program. In each course that I took, I earned another valuable skill which shaped my writing style, research techniques, creativity, and individual perspective in this field. The historiography and historical methods courses perfectly aligned with the work required of me in my graduate courses. Not only did I learn to write historiographically, but I also completed a methods research paper that would go on to be the basis for my graduate thesis.

What were your career ambitions going into graduate school, and how did graduate study shape (or reshape) those ambitions?

I decided to continue my education in graduate school because I wanted to broaden my career opportunities in the field, and because I simply was not ready to stop learning every day. I graduated from TAMU-SA with my Bachelor’s degree in history and a Social Studies teaching certification, but I was interested in exploring other options as well. It was not until graduate school that I was enticed by the idea of public history, and teaching history in more than just a standard classroom space. In public history, I am able to combine my love of history and historical spaces with the satisfaction of constantly learning and teaching.

How are you currently using the knowledge and skills from your undergraduate and graduate experiences in your career?

Currently, I am an Education Specialist with the Texas Historical Commission. I work at the French Legation State Historic Site, one of the oldest homes in Austin, Texas, and what was once known as “the Old French Embassy” for the Republic of Texas. Working in public history as an educator has allowed me to use all of the knowledge and skills I learned during my education journey. I am interpreting history at a historic site, researching and writing, working with hundreds of schools and teachers, and building lesson plans and programs that help people learn history.

What advice would you give to current undergraduate students considering graduate school?

Each journey is unique in graduate school. Students considering this path should take it at the pace they feel comfortable with, with the focus they enjoy, and with an open mind. Graduate school can be a lot to process all at once, and it’s important to remember to check in with yourself and continue to do things that bring you happiness. It is, however, a rewarding process. You have the opportunity to become a better historian, gain lifelong friendships, and network in some of the most incredible ways!

Spring 2020 Featured Alumnus
Marc Molina, Class of 2019
History Ph.D. student, University of Texas at El Paso

On February 14, 2020, Marc returned to A&M-San Antonio to present “Cherry Street Blues: Tracing San Antonio’s Black Music History,” as part of the university’s celebration of Black History Month. Marc previously completed this research during an internship with the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum. Dr. Amy Porter, Professor of History, sat down with Marc to talk about his doctoral program and reflect on his time at A&M-SA.

How did the history program at Texas A&M University-San Antonio prepare you for your graduate program?

The transition from an undergraduate to a doctoral program was sharp, but my studies at Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) prepared me as well as any institution for the challenge. I went in with a familiarity to a significant amount of the theory and historiography relevant to my course work at UTEP and feel confident sharing my voice in class discussions. The history professors at A&M-SA are recognized around the nation, and I feel lucky to have studied under them.

What are the benefits of studying history as an undergraduate?

Pursuing a major in history offers you important skills and a powerful lens for approaching a diverse set of careers and issues. Sorting through complex problems, understanding their continuity and change over time, and offering synthetic analyses and empathetic judgments are key components of the historical discipline and valuable tools for both the job market and life, broadly. Whether you want to teach, continue to graduate programs, or seek other careers in the humanities and elsewhere, a history degree at A&M-SA is a great medium to accomplish many goals.

What are you studying in your graduate program?

Currently, I am interested in environmental history topics in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands – particularly the ways in which food and agriculture inform our understanding of culture, society, and identity. My dissertation focuses on the Amistad Reservoir, a bi-national dam and water reservoir on the U.S.-Mexico border north of Del Rio, Texas. Using this as a launching point, this work will provide a longue durée history of the Tamaulipan mezquital bioregion from the first indigenous inhabitants through the creation of the reservoir in the mid-20th century.