Job Title
Staff Historian, U.S. Army Center for Military History, in Washington, D.C.
Favorite thing about your experience in our MA program
I loved the friendships I made and the great mentors I had during my time in the M.A. program. In particular, the mentorship I received from Dr. Shelia Phipps changed the course of my life and I can't thank her enough for her support. She's the reason I decided to pursue a PhD program and a career in academia. And the support I received from my colleagues and my professors ensured my success. They believed in me and helped me to believe in myself. I felt completely prepared going from our M.A. program to a PhD program and I think it helped to make my first year in the PhD program a smooth transition.
Advice for future students
A. find scholarships, fellowships, or teaching assistantships that can help you pay for your graduate program. Seek out tuition assistance. You'll be much more productive if you're not worried about your financial situation. B. find a mentor as early as possible. They're there to help guide you, offer support, and offer you direction when you feel lost. And C. get to know your cohort and build collegiality. Too often academia is about competition, but in the end we need each other and you'll be surprised at the collaborative projects that might come from getting to know each other. There's enough competition in this world. Be supportive instead.