History Major Ruth Behling Selected for FBI Internship

Congratulations are in order for History major Ruth Behling, who has won a "Scholastic Honors Internship" with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). She will graduate from UAH in May 2009, and she will complete the Scholastic Honors Internship from June 8, 2009 to August 14, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Ruth has worked very hard during her years at UAH. In addition to completing a History major, she has also completed minors in Art History and Global Studies. Ruth is also a member of the Phi Alpha Theta history honorary. The FBI internship is also a clear marker of Ruth's persistence. As she stated, "When I recieved word that I was second place I stayed with the application process. Then I received word I actually received a position. This was not another "almost" in my life but an actual opportunity to do something different." Ruth hopes that the internship "will open doors for me to venture into and help me figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life." She also stated that, "With this internship I can learn how I can stop the corruption that is prevalant in our nation."

We are so happy for you, Ruth, and looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Congratulations to MA Alum Thomas Reidy

The history faculty at UAH were pleased to hear recently that our MA alum, Thomas Reidy, who is pursuing a PhD in American history at the University of Alabama, has received the Frank Lawrence Owsley Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is given annually to a UA Grad student who demonstrates superior competency in American History.

Tom was also asked to and will begin working on a documentary for PBS about the lives of Clifford and Virginia Durr. The Durrs were an Alabama couple. They were New Dealers who became deeply committed to Civil Rights and are the subjects of several books.

We are also pleased that Tom will be rejoining us in Fall 2008 to teach two sections of History 103, the first half of the world history sequence.

It is nice to see our alumni doing so well!

Congratulations to History Major Jennifer Staton, Winner of a Fulbright Fellowship!

The History Department is proud to celebrate the achievement of Jennifer Staton, who just received word that she has won a Fulbright fellowship to teach English in Germany during Academic Year 2009-2010. The fellowship will cover almost all of her expenses. She will be placed at a high school and will assist an English teaching inside and outside the classroom.

This prestigious honor is the culmination of years of hard work at UAH. In addition to majoring in History, Jennifer has completed a minor in English and has also taken several courses in German. She has also developed her teaching skills by working as a tutor in the Writing Center and in the Peer Assisted Study Session program led by the Student Success Center. Jennifer also spent two weeks in Germany in May 2008 as part of a Global Studies/History course on Nazi Germany.

In addition to fulfilling her responsibilities as a teaching assistant and cultural ambassador, Jennifer will also have the chance to travel, visit art museums, and pursue her interests in early modern German and English history by visiting libraries and archives.

Pictured here see two photographs of Jennifer taken in Germany in May 2008, one picturing her with a painting by Johannes Vermeer in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and a second featuring her in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

Congratulations, Jennifer. We are proud of you and wish you all the best!

Congratulations to Student Award Winners!

On Tuesday, April 8, UAH Huntsville had its annual "Honors Day," where it celebrated student award winners for the year.

The History Department is proud to congratulate five student winners. Pictured here, see Joseph Richardson, winner of the new Dr. John Rison Jones Award in Southern History (sponsored by the Huntsville-Madison County Historical Society); Jennifer Staton, winner of the department's Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement Award; Svetlana Jovanov, winner of the department's Outstanding Graduate Achievement Award; Craig Noneman, winner of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Alabama History Essay Award; and Veronica Ferreira, winner of the Colonel Walter Aston Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century History Award.

History students received commendation in other departments, too. Veronica Ferreira and Jennifer Staton both received Women's Studies honors, Veronica as Outstanding Student and Jennifer as second-place winner in the Upper-Division Essay Contest. History major Sarah Fisher also received second-place in the Lower-Division Essay Contest. Sarah, a double major in Political Science, also received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for the Political Science Department.

We are very proud of our outstanding students. Congratulations to you all!

Congratulations to New Phi Alpha Theta Inductees

On Friday April 3, 2009, the Tau Omega chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta history honorary inducted seven new members, all of whom had met demanding eligibility criteria in their history classes and other coursework at UAH.

Dr. Richard Gerberding offered up his Castle for the ceremony, and new inductees and their family members joined the history department faculty and several already-inducted members for a lovely early spring evening of conversation, casual hors d'oeuvres, and tours of the Castle building and grounds.

Pictured here see new inductees Matthew Menarchek, John Milling, Bill Bailey, and Josh Riddle. Also inducted but unable to attend the ceremony were Derrick Chatterton, Nate Gibson, and Reeves Jordan.

Also pictured are new members with several already-inducted members in attendance, including Greg Hughes, Thomas Bockhorn, Dawn Suiter, Elisabeth Spalding, and Joseph Richardson.

Congratulations to all our new inductees!

Congratulations to the Society for Ancient Languages on a Successful Classics Week 2009

The History Department would like to commend the Society for Ancient Languages and the Classical Studies Program for yet another successful Classics Week.

This year, Classics Week featured Professor Robert Kaster, Professor of Classics and Kennedy Foundation Professor of Latin at Princeton University. Kaster gave two lectures on Friday, February 27, one on "Roman Values and Virtues," and another on "Cicero in Mourning."



Professor Kaster also spent much time conversing with students in the Society for Ancient Languages over meals and visits to local sites. The highlight of Professor Kaster's visit was the annual Convivium at Dr. Richard Gerberding's Castle, where current and former members of the Society for Ancient Languages as well as many supporters and friends gathered for an elegant evening of fine dining, intellectual stimulation, and a musical interlude provided by Vox Angelica.



Special thanks to Society member Joseph Richardson for documenting the event through his photography. Featured here are a select number of photographs, one featuring Professor Kaster during a public lecture; a second featuring students, photographed from above, gathered in the Great Hall of Dr. Gerberding's home; a third featuring students sitting at the table with Professor Kaster (with Society president and main event organizer Bill Bailey at the head of table with Professor Kaster to his side); and a fourth featuring Dr. Richard Gerberding, Director of the Classical Studies Program, together with Professor Kaster.

Phi Alpha Theta Members Present at Regional PAT Conference

On Saturday, February 7, four members of the Tau Omega chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta history honorary at UAHuntsville traveled to Livingston, Alabama, to present papers at the 2009 Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference hosted by the University of West Alabama.

Thomas Bockhorn presented a paper on "How the Children Saw It: James Hamilton Couper, Bennet Barrow, and Slavery." Jamie Farrell presented a paper on "Three Ways of Looking: Three Different Visual Representations of the Prostitute in Nineteenth Century Europe." Elisabeth Spalding presented on "Lesbian Persecution under the Third Reich." Sarah Fisher presented on "Vague Condemnations and a Vindicated Conscience: Pius XII and the Holocaust," for which she won a "Best Paper" prize. Faculty Advisor Molly Johnson accompanied the students and moderated a panel on U.S. Labor History.

We are very proud of our students and their hard work preparing for and participating in the PAT conference. They did us proud!

Pictured here see Thomas, Jamie, Sarah, and Elisabeth relaxing outside after their presentations. See also Jamie, Sarah, and Elisabeth -- with moderator Joe Frazer from Judson College -- before their presentations.