Justin Masucci

My general areas of study are United States and Latin American history, but my field of focus is the history of the US as an imperial power. After graduation, I see myself teaching at a liberal arts college.

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.

My favorite experiences as a UB history student have been in the classroom. In addition to the atmosphere of comradery, the graduate program provides various opportunities for students to teach, either as teaching assistants or as instructors during the summer and winter sessions.

My advice for prospective UB history graduate students is to choose dissertation topics that stimulate intellectual excitement. The process of researching and writing a dissertation is long and arduous, so do whatever you can to make the situation better.

My favorite historic site in the greater Buffalo area is Forest Lawn Cemetery. It is the final resting place of such notable individuals as President Millard Fillmore, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Seneca Chieftain Red Jacket, and musical artist Rick James.

If I could have dinner with one person from history, I would want to dine with President Franklin Roosevelt because he preserved American democracy during the Great Depression (a period when democracy was not particularly popular) and led the American war effort that, in conjunction with the other Allies, defeated the fascists in World War II.