Southern Virginia University

Is a History Major Practical?

Many undergraduates wonder what they can do with a history degree. The major helps students refine skills of critical analysis, research, and writing. Graduates of the Southern Virginia University history program have used their training as a springboard to career paths in business, education, law, and public policy.

Where Are They Now?

Tyson Cooper (2007), the first President of our history honor’s society, heads Accounts Receivable at Southern Virginia University.

Nelson Knight (2005) is Senior Vice President for Development of New Properties with Apple REIT Company. Before holding this post he worked as an analyst and then as Vice-President for Capital Markets at Apple REIT.

Liz Pohm (2005), former captain of the women’s cross-country team, now serves as an editor for a cookbook company in Boston.

Michelle Nowling (2007) works as an actor-interpreter at the Dallas Heritage Village. Michelle wrote her senior paper on efforts by African-Americans to participate in the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. In a wonderful example of great timing, Michelle interviewed for the job at the very moment when the museum was adopting as the Chicago World’s Fair as its theme for the year.

Lyndsey Thackston (2007) started out as a paralegal and currently is in a full-time Master’s of Education program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Heather Gamet (2007) is a special education teacher in Guam who is simultaneously enrolled in an M.A. program in education at the University of Guam.

Amber Tychonievich (2006) works in the library at Penn State University. She will begin an M.A. program in Library Science in the fall of 2010.

Will Hunt (2009) is in an M.A. program in history at Iowa State University.

Matt Taylor (2007) attends the McGeorge Law School at the University of the Pacific, where he receives support from a generous scholarship.

Chuck Warring (2008) works as a federal employee at the U.S. Congress Visitor Center. He also is taking graduate courses in national security studies at Johns Hopkins University. In the fall of 2009, he served as a paid intern to representative Jim Jensen ® of Ohio. Warring will enter law school at the University of Utah in the fall of 2010 having been accepted to the program last year.

With a degree in history, the possibilities are endless!