YESTERDAY AND TODAY
News about the History and American Studies Programs at Springfield College
Welcome to the Springfield College History and American Studies program newsletter!

During this time of global crisis and change, I wanted to share some of our program's milestones of the past year. Please take a minute or two to learn about student achievements, recent news within our faculty, and career achievements of some of our programs’ alumni.

We enjoyed many special moments this past year, including program innovations and unique field trips about pirates and immigrants in New England. One highlight: Best-selling author Jon Meacham’s reference to our own History major and 2019 class graduation speaker Kathleen Morris as “future President Morris.” The sky is the limit for Kathleen, and for all our graduates!

Please reply to this email with answers to this 3 question survey so that we can improve the way we communicate our message:
1. How often would you like to receive newsletters like this one?
2. What do you value most about your experience in the History or American Studies program at Springfield College?
3. Where do you think we could do better in preparing students for life after
Springfield College?

Sincerely yours,

Thomas Carty
tcarty@springfieldcollege.edu
Professor Carty (left) with 2019 graduation speaker Jon Meacham, author of several books, including the authorized biography of President George H. W. Bush.
Kathleen Morris
“For the speech, I had to submit my written speech for them to look over, and then they had people audition for the part. As for awards, I received the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award this year, along with second place for the descriptive category for Scholars in Action Day.”
Alumni
Amanda DiPaolo Wright '09 (HIST/ENG) “Currently, I am the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards at Adelphi University on Long Island. Such a long title, but I conduct and oversee investigations of potential violations of the Code of Conduct and also help protect student rights on campus. I also serve as adjunct faculty for Adelphi's Master of Social Work program and provide supervision to Social Work interns in my department. It's been exciting to use my social work and law degree and I am further developing my interest in free speech on college campuses.”
Chris Malia '11 HIST : Chris is an editor at Business Wire working in midtown Manhattan. “The critical thinking skills I developed and honed as a history major at Springfield have been paramount to my career success as well as my world outlook,” Chris writes. In September 2018, Chris caught the first foul ball of his life (see photo nearby), “after years of hard work and determination as a Mets fan.”
Larissa Tabin '05 POL SCI : After graduating from Springfield College Larissa earned a Master's Degree in Criminology from San Diego State University, and now works as the Director of Development for South Bay Community Services, one of the largest non-profits in San Diego County. Larissa is a part owner/manager of a successful restaurant, Bayside Landing located in Pacific Beach (San Diego), with a second restaurant set to open in the fall. “Just as I kept myself busy while at SC, I also have a Blog, Fabfitfoodiesd.com,” Larissa writes, “where I do some creative writing. As I'm sure most former athletes and SC Grads do, I keep myself active running at the beach and doing Pilates.”
Jack Porter AMST '15 : "I am now working as a policy analyst for the higher education team in the Economic Opportunity Division of the National Governors Association."
Andy Covington HIST '10: " I am currently the Supervising Assistant District Attorney for the Northampton District Court for the Northwestern County District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. As an ADA for the past five years, I have prosecuted over forty jury trials and have handled thousands of other criminal cases. Although I have a diverse caseload, I specialize in motor vehicle homicides and certain narcotic offenses. From July of 2018 until December of 2018, I was on active duty orders providing operational support to the Department of Justice by serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in New Mexico, where I prosecuted over 200 federal felonies. Furthermore, I still serve as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps Reserve."
Peter Bys HIST/EDUC '17: Peter Bys is teaching sixth grade ancient civilizations in Sheffield MA. He commutes a long way from Albany, NY. He is pictured with his girlfriend Emily Rock during a hike at Kaaterskill Falls in the eastern Catskill mountains of New York.
Student Achievements
We graduated 6 students with History degrees (Kathleen Morris, Hogan Tomkunas, Danny Hurlburt, Ian Leonard, and Matt Cole) and 7 with American Studies degrees (Mike Minucci, Savannah Ditomassi, Haley Cordery, Hayley Kmetz, Elizabeth Cummings, Kendra Cerce, Jessica Sylvester).
Kathleen Morris ’19, History/Secondary Education, earned several honors this year:

  • selected to address the graduating class. 
  • second place in the Descriptive Category at the 2019 Scholars in Action Day for a presentation entitled “Lincoln Douglas Debates: A Test for the Future, Great Emancipator.”
  • inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award (The recipient "must have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Springfield College, or within the community; served as an advocate or agent of change within their sphere of influence on campus or within the community; and have implemented programs and or services or initiatives, which have fostered greater appreciation for building authentic relationships at Springfield College and or within the community.”)
  • Kathleen is teaching high school history in Springfield.

Hogan Tomkunas ’19, a History major, enrolled in University of New Hampshire law school in the fall.

Junior Olivia Baker , an American Studies/Education major, Conference Paper took 1st place at 2019 Scholars in Action Day "Thomas Lincoln's Influence on Abraham Lincoln's Life and Leadership."
Junior Madelyn Reppucci , History/Secondary Education major, received a Springfield College Room and Board Grant which the college provides for an Army and Air Force ROTC cadet who has earned a national or local full-tuition ROTC scholarship
Sophomore Quinn Kenneally , a History/Secondary Education major studied in Galway and kept a blog of her experience: http://wordpress.springfieldcollege.edu/ireland/

First year American Studies/Elementary Ed. major Delaney Bolton , History/Secondary Ed. major Molly Coates , and American Studies major Kyle Lukaesko were selected for the Honors’ program. Molly took over leadership of the History Club
Senior Kathleen Morris (holding envelope--second from the right) received the 2019 student inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award.
Danny Hurlburt ’19, a History major (with Business Management and Accounting), received the Business Department’s Outstanding Senior Award. Danny will begin an M.B.A. program at Springfield College in the fall.
Senior Elizabeth Cummings , a 2019 American Studies/Education major received the Education Department’s Outstanding Senior Education Award.
Zelarn Bly , a History and American Studies major took first place in the Literature Review Category at the 2019 Scholars in Action Day. Her presentation was titled “The Emancipation Bill to Capitol Hill.” (photo by Christine Caster)
Senior Kathleen Morris , a History and Education major took second place in the Descriptive Category at the 2019 Scholars in Action Day. Her presentation was titled “Lincoln Douglas Debates: A Test for the Future, Great Emancipator” (photo by Christine Caster)
Happenings in the Program
Public History and Museum Studies minor—Professor Ian Delahanty launched our new Public History and Museum Studies minor by guiding students in creating a display about the college’s role in World War I for the Springfield College Museum.

Field trips
  • Ian Delahanty took classes to the Polish Center of Discovery in Chicopee, MA, St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield, as well as Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty for HIST 310 American Immigration History class
  • Fernando Gonzalez de León brought his HIST 388 Special Topics: Pirates of the Caribbean class to the Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod. Emily Conroy (on the pirates left, and Dr. Gonzalez’s right), a History and Secondary Education major, recalled that the trip “allowed us to reflect on what we learned pertaining to pirate myths, world politics, geography, and influential figures in the golden age of piracy. The trip also exemplified piracy in New England.”
During the Spring 2018 semester, Hogan Tomkunas worked as an intern at the Connecticut General Assembly in Hartford, where he performed support services, research and reflection assignments. Hogan is pictured here at the CT legislative building with Professor Ian Delahanty and a Civil War relic in the background.
Harry Potter and History—Professor Thomas Carty presented a “Master Class” for Friends and Family Weekend (for the third year in a row) called “Harry Potter Comes to Springfield College.” “I created this presentation (with math professor Tyler Markkanen) to reveal lessons about ancient Greece and Rome, as well as World War II, that one can learn from the J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series.” More than 50 students, parents, and siblings attended.
Professors Ian Delahanty and Kate Dugan (Religious Studies) led students on a Study Abroad experience in Ireland in May 2019.

  • June 5, 2019 Springfield Republican story—“Springfield College history major Hogan Tomkunas was interested in going on the trip to enhance his knowledge of history in a real-world setting.”




Political Science Professor Daniel Russell retired in the spring of 2018 after teaching at Springfield College since 1984. (photo of Dr. Russell below)
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