Meet Our Students

Our students come from diverse backgrounds and pursue a variety of different careers, but they have one thing in common: a desire to understand the past. We're honored to help them on their journey. Learn more about why our students think the University at Buffalo Department of History is the perfect place to study.

Richard Fries, BA Class of 2021
12/8/21
My favorite class within the history major so far would have to be His 391,China and the World, taught by Dr. Stapleton. As someone who went into the course with very little knowledge about Chinese history, this class provided all of the necessary background information that you would need in order to get really in depth on a lot of interesting topics I never covered in high school.
Steve Joyce, BA Class of 2014
12/8/21
My history degree has helped me immensely in my pursuit of a law degree. I learned early on to not only spot issues, but to determine the why and how these issues came to be.
Sam Trzaska, BA Class of 2018
12/8/21
To be honest, every single class and experience during my time as a history major has been excellent. From the office staff to the faculty, everyone in the department is there to help you achieve your academic and career goals. I have taken courses on everything from the history of WWII to the cultural history of the Huron-Wendat Nation and the evolution of my favorite sport, soccer. However, my experience with the History Honors Program stood out as the most memorable and rewarding.
Eric Stroiber, BA Class of 2009
12/8/21
Majoring in history does not limit one to becoming a history teacher. Many industries, including banking, are recruiting liberal arts majors because of their ability to think critically, understand and manage complex social and political relationships, and develop new ideas on how companies should navigate current and future business environments.
David Strittmatter, PhD Class of 2018
12/8/21
Since starting the PhD program here, I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of opportunities grad students can take advantage of. Research and conference funding is available from a number of sources, and the department has given me the opportunity to teach three of my own classes.
Lauren Kacherski, BA Class of 2018
12/8/21
As a freshman, I originally applied to UB as a business major. During the summer after high school graduation, I began to have doubts regarding this choice and contacted an advisor to discuss my decision. I spoke with Janeen Wilder and she was immensely helpful.
Jenna Marcus, BA Class of 2021
12/8/21
“The history classes I’ve taken at UB have stayed with me long after finishing them. Among other things, they opened my eyes to a world of diverse histories and human experiences, and helped me to understand the events that have shaped our current world. The knowledge gained and the stories learned have awarded me valuable and clear-eyed insight into the present — something all too important in a world where peoples, systems and events are so often deeply misunderstood.”
Justin Masucci, PhD Candidate
12/8/21
The most appealing aspect of the graduate program at UB is the cooperative spirit among the graduate students. Generally-speaking, the members of doctoral cohorts aid each other rather than compete with each other.
Tanya Blakeley-Clark, PhD Candidate
12/8/21
Initially, the prospect of working with Dr. Claire Schen drew me to UB. I became familiar with her work as a master’s student and was excited at the opportunity to study under her. What solidified my decision was the welcoming environment that I experienced during my campus visit and the interdisciplinary approach that the department takes with regards to courses and research work.
Corrine Cardinale, BA Class of 2018
12/8/21
I’ve always loved reading, writing, and telling stories. When I was in high school, I realized that there were some stories that carried more significance than others to me, and those were historical stories. I remember hearing the quote, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

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