History

Marlene Cunico

World Geography and American Problems Teacher, Belleville Township High School District 201

“The most valuable aspect of the program was the history pedagogy class, which taught me how to teach in and manage a classroom setting. The program gave me the foundation I needed to become a successful teacher. The program prepared me for the classroom as well as formulating lesson plans. The most rewarding aspect was my student teaching experience at Collinsville Middle School, which allowed me to put what I had learned into practice.”

Jamie Cutright

Social Studies Teacher, Palestine High School, Palestine, Illinois

"The history education department at SIUE is one of the best! The professors were great influences in my academic career and my professional development. Dr. Rowena McClinton gave me the skills I needed to be successful by learning what teaching in a classroom would entail in History 323. My cooperating teacher at Edwardsville High School during my student teaching brought everything to life. I loved my time at SIUE in this department and I would recommend it to anyone."

Matt Dailey

10-12 Grade U.S. History, World Geography, and Government/Economics Teacher, Tidioute Community Charter School, Tidioute, Pennsylvania

“The education I got at SIUE is one of the best. SIUE's classes brought out the many issues a teacher will face in the classroom. They made it realistic. The knowledge of social studies that I gained coupled with this real-world preparedness was the most helpful in being successful in my classroom.”

Samantha Doolin

Glen Carbon Heritage Museum Coordinator

"I loved my time at SIUE in the graduate and undergraduate historical studies departments. I had the opportunity to explore many facets of history and dive into those that I enjoyed most. I cannot express my appreciation for the classes, the professors, and even the students I helped as a graduate teaching assistant enough. While working here at the Heritage Museum, I am connecting with professors who specialize in fields I did not have the opportunity to explore as a student. Now, as a professional, I know I have support and resources available to me. The museum studies courses I took have impacted my career and provided me with the foothold necessary for my everyday responsibilities."

Jake William Elmer

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

"The support of the History faculty helped guide me to be successful both through my courses and leading into my career following my education at SIUE."

Alexander Gochnour

Quality Engineering Analyst, Accenture Federal Services

Studying history at SIUE taught me a broad set of analytical skills that I use daily to dissect complicated technical projects and concepts. By reducing these monumental months-long projects into their basic building blocks, I am able to plan out project development tasks and build technical roadmaps. This is not unlike studying a historical event, and breaking down the causality of events that led to it. Studying history builds an analytical mindset that strongly translates into other fields of work and study. 

Aaron Marshall

Social Studies Instructor, Chicago International Charter School Ralph Ellison, Chicago

“The interaction with professors proved to be the most valuable part of my experience. The professors were accessible, personable, and showed they truly cared about the experience we had while preparing for our teaching career. Going from SIUe to our classrooms during student teaching was seamless because of the time our professors took. My knowledge of Common Core and curriculum structure has come to be a defining part of my success. I have been able to hit the ground running in those areas because of the time spent at SIUe.”

Erin Meyer

Social Studies Teacher, Collinsville High School

“I honestly cannot say enough great things about the social studies department at SIUE. Every social studies teacher I had was so knowledgeable and passionate about both history and the students. I have a few professors (shout out to Jason Stacy and Tori Harrison!) that have remained in contact with me and offered me sound advice and support even after graduating and heading into my career. The content I learned in a wide variety of classes has made me a more well rounded history teacher. I also had classes and professors that took time to not only teach content, but HOW to teach content in the most in depth ways."

Sam Moore 

Managing Director of Public History, Missouri Historical Society

"History at SIUE provided me with a deep dive into theory and research along with opportunities to do real-world work in history museums and archives. The department’s well-rounded course offerings and flexible approach to my B.S. allowed me to build a portfolio and get a foot in the door in the museum community, all as an undergraduate student."

Lauren Russell

"My first job after graduation was working as an archaeological field technician in cultural resource management. I was able to get this job because of my second major in anthropology which included an archaeological field school. This role included working shovel tests for sites and early phase archaeological digs to ensure that historical sites and artifacts would not be affected by modern construction or day to day operations."

Ryan Wiggs

Social Studies Teacher, Belleville East High School

“The History Education program at SIUE definitely prepared me for my job. I have taught two years of junior high and four years of high school and I have felt very prepared for both jobs. In addition, I am certified in many areas that not all social studies teachers are certified in. The most challenging part of the program for me would also be the most rewarding: my student teaching semester. However, with a very supportive cooperating teacher and SIUE advisers, it turned out to be the most rewarding four months of my entire college experience.”