Alumni Survey

The History Department would like to hear from our alumni.  Click here to complete a request form and with the information you provide we hope to keep you informed of the department's current activities, as well as those of other alumni.

2008-2009 Winners of History Department Awards

Congratulations to the following students, who were given History Department Awards at the College of Liberal Arts Honors Convocation on Sunday, 22 March 2009:

Rachel S. Acton: Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Captain Henry Vanderburgh Chapter Scholarship.
Megan A. Milligan: Dain Garrett Merit Award
Mark A. Funke: The Delores DeWitt & Charles H. Browning History Scholarship
Donald A. Steen: Gustav M. & Eleanor L. Hoos and Daniel C. & Carolyn O. Scavone Scholarship
Mark W. Ota: William McGucken History Award
Robert Black: Daniel A. Miller Senior Prize in History
Joshua G. Orem: Donald E. Pitzer History Award
Megan E. Newlin: USI History Club Award
Rebecca E. Bloodworth and David A. Staples: Academic Achievement Award in European History
Jessica L. Ellis: Academic Achievement Award in United States History
Aaron Schmitt: Outstanding Future Educator Award
Mark W. Ota: Academic Achievement Award in World History

2008-2009 Winners of College and University Awards

Troy C. Wagner, Social Science Secondary Education:  Marlan & Pat Maidlow Scholarship
Christopher M. Herron, Social Science Secondary Education: Dr. Salvatore F. and Rosamond L. Mirabella Achievement Award
Sara A. Loete , Social Science Secondary Education: USI Foundation Excellence in Learning Award

The following History and Social Science Secondary Education students were recognized by the College of Liberal Arts for their scholastic achievement (3.5 GPA or higher with at least 90 hours completed):

Robert Black Rachel Bray Jonathan Brown Jeremy Croft Jessica Ellis Matthew Etienne Jimmy Funkhouser Matthew Hahn Christopher Herron Brian Locker

Richard Loomis Eric Mendel Bradley Nicholson Ashley Moran Theodore O'Brien Bryce Phillips Ayako Sakai Aaron Schmitt David Staples Anna Villain

Alumni News

Charles N. Aull, '07 (cnaull@indiana.edu), writes: "After graduating from USI in 2007, I completed a Post-Baccalaureate program in Classics at Georgetown University in the following year. Now I am in my first year of graduate studies in the Department of History at Indiana University Bloomington, where I am focusing on ancient and late antique history." Charles is also a Graduate Assistant in the Ancient Studies Program at IU.

Robert Black (Social Science Secondary Education, ’09) will begin full-time teaching this fall 2009 at Grayville Community Unit School in Grayville, Illinois. In addition to teaching World History, he will also teach classes in speech, English and media.

Brandon Barrett, '04, History and Social Science, teaches middle school social studies, technology and 7th and 8th grade religion at St. Philip Catholic School in Mt. Vernon, IN.  He also coaches 7th grade girl's volleyball and basketball at North Posey Junior High.  He has returned to USI and is taking courses to add Psychology to his teaching license. Brandon and his wife had their first baby -- Brennan Patrick -- in July 2008.

Rocky Brown, '07,History, was hired by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry as the only full-time Naturalist in the Division and manages the Interpretive Center at Deam Lake State Recreation Area in Borden, Indiana. He also interprets the natural and cultural history of the area to park visitors.

Social Science Teaching major Chad Cain ('02) has been teaching at Evansville's Harrison High School since fall 2003. He is currently completing in MALS at USI.

Jon Carl, ’95, Social Science Secondary Education, was named Indiana’s No Child Left Behind 2007 American Star of Teaching by the US Department of Education for his innovative class on historical documentaries called “Feel the History.” In October 2007, he was named one of “20 to Watch” by the National School Boards Association. He has also been named the “Caleb Mills History Educator of the Year by the Indiana Historical Society and Teacher of the Year for 2008 by the Indiana Computer Educators Association. For more on his “Feel the History” class, visit their website http://www.feelthehistory.com/

Brad Crow, '08 (bdcrow@usieagles.org), is working on his master's degree in history at Indiana State University. Brad writes: "I enjoyed my time at USI and am thankful for the education I received there."

Chad Dockery, '07, History, teaches at Berea High School in Greenville, SC, where he is the ISS Teacher, Strength Coach, Assistant Varsity Football Coach, and Head Track Coach. As of fall 2007, he will also be the Career Development Facilitator for the school.

Evan Hart, ’05, History, received the MA in history from the University of Cincinnati in May 2007. She has now begun her studies for the PhD in the same program.

Andrea Henke, ‘08, has accepted a position as a Park Ranger at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Vincennes, Indiana. She will begin working part-time during this semester and will become full-time after graduation in May.

Martha Al-Hieh, '02, finished her MA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at IU Bloomington in spring 2005. She was admitted into the IU Ph.D. program in fall 2005, and is pursuing dissertation research on late Medieval/Early Modern Middle Eastern history with emphasis on the changing position of women in Middle Eastern societies.

Andy Jeffries, ’08, has presented two PowerPoint talk, “Alhambra Theater: Its History and Place in the Community,” based on his research about the Alhambra Theater in Evansville.  The first was in September at a celebration commemorating the opening of the Alhambra, held in front of the theater, and the second was as the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Willard Library in November 2007. Other current and former USI History students participated in this meeting as well.  Presiding was former student Jessica McCarthy (’00, History), now an attorney for Fine & Hatfield, who continues as President of the Friends through 2008.  Current student Megan Brant (History) was presented Willard’s Volunteer of the Year Award by Library Director Greg Hager.  Patricia Sides (’73, History), who is the archivist at Willard, supervised Megan’s work and was thanked by Andy Jeffries for her assistance in his research on Alhambra Theater.

Kurt Kaufman, '04, History, has been a firefighter for Cincinnati Fire Department since December, 2005.

Robert Malcomson (Social Science Secondary Education, ’09), has accepted a full-time teaching position at Logan County High School in Russellville, Kentucky. He will be teaching freshman social studies in the Freshman Academy, and he will also be the girl’s varsity-JV Basketball coach.

Matthew A. Marshall, ’94, social science, works for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security. He is currently assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

John W. Morrow, '88, social science teaching, '98 Master of Secondary Education, is a past winner of the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Indiana Teacher of the Year.  He also has been recognized as local teacher of the year by the Boonville Wal-Mart Morrow is a history teacher at Castle High School in Newburgh, IN.

Tara Nation, '06, History (tarabeth02@hotmail.com), completed a Masters degree in Education from Louisiana State University in 2007. She now teaches high school social studies in Reserve, Louisiana.

Mark Owens, '00, social science teaching, is currently head of the Social Studies Department at Southwestern High School in Hanover, Indiana where he teaches World History and Advanced Placement U.S. History.

Phyllis A. Ripplemeier, ’76, social science, has joined the Vanderburgh Humane Society as shelter operations manager in Evansville.

Erin Smith (eetb1469@aol.com), '06, history, has worked as Youth Services Assistant in the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library. In spring 2009, she will apply to the Masters in Library Sciences program at the University of Alabama.

Michelle Thoman, '07, will enter the master's program in history at Indiana State University in fall 2009. Michelle has been secretary at the Warren Early Childhood Center in Indianapolis since her graduation from USI. She is engaged to Adrian Stoica, who will stay in Indianapolis while Michelle works on her MA.

Tara Ulmer, '07 (tnulmer@gmail.com), is serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania. She works in Tarnaveni, a small town in Transylvania, teaching grades 5-8, writing grants for school resources, working with adult education and promoting volunteerism in her town.

Brian Wassmer, '08, social science, is now teaching at Reitz High School in Evansville.

Lucas Wilder, '98, has his own law firm in Dayton, Ohio.