Victoria Rucinski

I entered UB with an interest in History, but after taking a few History classes in my first semesters, the expertise of the faculty and the value placed on open discussion within my courses prompted me to pursue the major full-time.

My favorite class so far has been Dr. Cahn’s Social History of Women in the US. Examining the role women had in the development of their political, cultural, and social evolution has given me new insight into the current status of women in America, and complicated the ideas I had previously learned in relation to women’s history.

Because I am majoring in both History and English, as well as pursuing the Creative Writing Certificate, I hope to attend graduate school and obtain my MFA in Creative Writing. The rigor of upper-level History seminars, necessary critical reading skills, and a greatly-expanded knowledge of historical context has informed and enriched my other areas of concentration.

Outside of school I work for a local tour organization, Explore Buffalo, so I have had many opportunities to learn about the notable locations of our city’s history. My two favorites, though, would have to be the mansions on Delaware and Silo City, for their remarkable architecture and the relevance they’ve had in Buffalo’s history and continuing resurgence.

I would have dinner with Oscar Wilde to discuss his life and his play, Lady Windermere’s Fan.