Thanks to generous donations from alumni and support from the Office of Undergraduate Research, six history majors joined professors Laura Smoller and Pablo Sierra at the 134th meeting of the American Historical Association in New York City this January. Below, Professor Sierra recounts his experience of leading the group, and four students share how attending the meeting helped them envision a future in history. (Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.)
Professor Pablo Sierra: "In early January, the History department sponsored six students to attend the 2020 meeting of the American Historical Association in New York City. Our alumni members generously offered to support this fantastic initiative, which was also assisted by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Piffanie Rosario '20, Brandon Pachman '20, L. Herman '20, Sarah Hogan '20, Eleanor Lenoe '21, and Kaylee Kisselburgh '21 were able to participate in the panels, workshops, roundtables, and the massive book exhibit that make up the AHA.
From my perspective, the conference is typically an opportunity to present new work, meet with old friends from graduate school and even do a bit of sightseeing. In this occasion, however, there was an additional element of excitement in knowing that these six talented undergraduates were getting their first taste of one of the largest historical meetings in the world.
On the Saturday of the conference, our students, Professor Laura Smoller, and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Kashkaval Garden. We shared our impressions of the panels and workshops and debated the process of historian demystification – the intellectual exercise of meeting an author whose book one has read and placing that person somewhere on the spectrum of human normalcy. We shared our wishes and anxieties about graduate school and the many twists and turns that led all of us to the History major. It was great fun and an extremely educational experience, for me anyway.
Conferences and academic meetings can be daunting events. The pressure of making positive first impressions, delivering a paper just right, or simply making new acquaintances is stressful, especially for self-identified introverts (such as myself). Yet at this AHA meeting in New York City, the UR history majors reminded me of the productive energy that exchanging ideas can bring about. I cannot speak for these six remarkable students or what they really thought about the conference, but I believe I detected a new air of confidence among this remarkable cohort when classes started in January."
Kaylee Kisselburgh '21: "My favorite part of being at the AHA conference was being surrounded by people that share my passion for history. I was able to talk to and listen to people who were part of the greater history community and historical education community. I would love to go into education (specifically history education) after I finish my studies, and being able to see professors and talk to teachers at different levels was important to me. Because of these interactions, I have been able to reflect on my plans for the future, and I am even more motivated to pursue my passions.
During the conference, I attended a discussion about transitions to graduate school. While I found the panelists a little overly pragmatic, I was also able to learn about the benefits of graduate education and some of the difficulties that come with it. I was able to ask about some of my hesitations about applying to graduate school, and in return I received a lot of guidance about the application process and the experience of being a graduate student. I plan on going to graduate school, and because of this discussion, I now have a more well-rounded idea of what I should expect."
Eleanor Lenoe '21: "As a Junior history major at UR, attending the AHA and meeting all sorts of accomplished scholars was incredibly inspiring. I was able to attend several interesting panels and round tables, including two on Japanese women's history, a field that I am interested in but the UR History Department does not teach.
In addition, on the third day of the conference, I attended the career fair and was able to get valuable advice on my future as a history student. I spoke with a high school history teacher, museum curators, and two archivists, and each individual gave me solid advice on finding a graduate school. It was a wonderful privilege to attend the AHA, and I am hopeful that I will be able to attend again in future years."
Piffanie Rosario '20: "My favorite part about the AHA meeting was being able to run into scholars I had previously had the opportunity to hear speak elsewhere. I think that having the opportunity to see them at the AHA meeting helped further my relationships with them and also allowed me a chance to ask for advice in regards to my own research. Additionally, I really enjoyed the layout of the meeting and the materials with which I was provided. The pamphlet for the conference alone listed so many experts in the field of history, along with their notable work, and provided me with greater insight into how expansive the history discipline truly is.
The most interesting part of the AHA meeting for me was attending a panel focusing on the Latin American experience of abolition. I thought it was interesting to hear the panelists discuss the Latin influence on the United States, something I was only recently introduced to in an Afro-Latin course I took. I enjoyed learning about aspects of abolition in the United States that were shaped by Latinos."
Brandon Pachman '20: "Attending the American Historical Association's 134th annual conference in New York City was an incredible experience! For three days, I attended numerous panels and presentations that I found insightful and interesting. Some contained presentations that were useful for my research; others I decided to attend in order to learn about a topic that I knew nothing about, such as debt in the 20th century. There were also panels discussing applying to grad school, as well as careers for history majors. I had the opportunity to listen to a former president of the World Bank and Trade Representative talk about the value of a history degree in the workplace, and I got to meet several historians whose works I've read.
These sessions took up most of the day, but at night, the conference held plenary sessions as well. One of the coolest parts of the conference was listening to former National Security Adviser General H.R. McMaster talk about the importance of understanding history when devising national security strategy. I felt so fortunate to hear a three-star general talk about how what I study is not only relevant, but crucial at the highest levels of government. I left the conference with a greater appreciation for the skills I have developed at the University of Rochester and thankful that I made the right choice to become a history major! Thank you to all of the alumni who made my unforgettable experience possible!" -Brandon Pachman '20
To echo Brandon's point, thank you to our generous alumni who helped fund this trip! To donate to the History Alumni Advisory Committee Fund for Undergraduate Studies, which will fund similar experiences for our students in the future, click here.