Ruby Johnson, M.A. '13, PhD Student

Ruby graduated in 2013 with concentrations in US History and Women & Gender.  She is a PhD student at The George Washington University and splits her time between the DC area and Bethlehem, PA.  Her concentrations at GW are 20^th Century US and Gender History; her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She is particularly interested in the political actions of Mormon women.  Ruby can be contacted by email or telephone at 610.653.4119.

What are some exciting things happening in your life?

I just finished my first year as a PhD student at GWU. So far it has been a difficult, strange, and wonderful experience. I am a graduate fellow at the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. The project works to publish highly selective volumes of Eleanor Roosevelt’s political writing in the years after FDR’s death. We are currently working on Volume III, digitizing previous volumes, and making her monthly newspaper columns available online.

I recently found out that I was selected to attend the Institute for the Editing of Historical Documents in Louisville this July. I received a stipend to cover the costs of my trip and will also be attending the annual conference of the Association for Documentary Editing that follows the institute.

Favorite or recommended history books? 

This is a tough question. I suppose I would suggest The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America by Sarah Barringer Gordon, No Constitutional Right to Be Ladies: Women and the Obligations of Citizenship by Linda K. Kerber, and Freedom's Orator: Mario Savio and the Radical Legacy of the 1960s by Robert Cohen.

Why did you seek an MA in History? 

I knew that I wanted to eventually pursue my PhD, but I felt like getting my MA was a good stepping stone in the process. For once in my life I was absolutely right. Getting my MA at Villanova was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Before attending Villanova, what did you have in mind, career-wise, after completing the program?  Did you pursue this?  If not, what changed your mind?

I knew that I wanted to get a PhD and being at Villanova only confirmed this.

Tell us a bit about your experience applying for PhD programs.

I won’t lie: applying for PhD programs is horrible. It is expensive, nerve-wracking, and time consuming (usually at the worst possible time, too). In the end, however, you learn a lot about yourself, what you want to do, and where you want to go which makes it a worthwhile exercise regardless of the outcome.  

Give us a brief description of your PhD student duties.

I am not a TA like most PhD students. I am a fellow at the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. I am required to work 16 hours a week in my office in DC researching, transcribing, annotating, and ranking and subject coding documents for publication. I also take 9 credit hours of classes, research seminars, or independent studies each semester until January 2015 when I take my oral exam. After my exam, I will write my dissertation proposal and my dissertation. I am funded until Spring 2018, but I hope to be done before then.

What do you enjoy about being in a PhD program?  And if you’re comfortable sharing this publicly, what would you say are the less desirable aspects of the gig?

I love doing history every day of my life. I am finally to the point where I get to work on the things I am interested in more than I work on the things that I have to because of a class requirement. I love my job at the project. It is incredibly fascinating and rewarding.  I am also lucky. I am in a program where all the PhD students are funded at the same level for the same amount of time. The other students in my program are really supportive of one another and the people in my cohort have become some of my closest friends. It is good to know that I will be working through all of the craziness with them.

With the good, however, there is usually bad. Getting your PhD is incredibly stressful. You constantly worry about whether you are good enough, doing enough, or disappointing your advisor. Most of the worries are unfounded, but that doesn’t make them go away. 

How have the knowledge and skills you developed at VU helped you as you’ve continued deeper into academia?

I learned so much at Villanova, both about myself and about history. The classes were stimulating, challenging, and taught by some of the most amazing professors I have ever worked with. They truly prepared me to go on to a PhD program and do graduate-level research. My advisors were so supportive and they gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. Working on the Memorable Days project with Judy Giesberg gave me the knowledge, experience, and confidence to do the work that I am doing now at the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project.

Do you have any additional background, training, or experience that’s aided you (examples: another degree or certificate, technical skills, language proficiency, etc.)?

I was introduced to Digital History/Humanities while working on the Memorable Days project. This has become a huge advantage to me as I seek out new tools and resources which are available for researchers and students.

What would you tell current students who are contemplating seeking a PhD?

I will tell you what a very wise professor at Villanova told me: Do what you love. Do it no matter how odd or specific it seems. Seriously, follow your passion because no matter if you continue on to a PhD program or not, you will have spent two years at Villanova doing what you love to do. I do Mormon political history and I wasn’t sure anyone would be interested in working with me, but I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm I received from potential programs and advisors. My current advisor is so wonderful. He is my biggest supporter and proof that you don’t have to compromise your research interests to find a good fit.

Any other wisdom you’d like to pass on?

Take advantage of all that Villanova has to offer. You are surrounded by amazing professors, students, staff, and resources, and will probably never be in a situation again where you will receive as much intellectual nurturing as you receive at Villanova. Enjoy it. Your time there will fly by incredibly fast so try to pause every once in a while to take note of what you are doing and what you want to be doing. 

Jackie Beatty, M.A. '12, PhD Student

Jackie graduated in 2012 with concentrations in US History and Women & Gender. She is a PhD student at George Mason University.  Her major field is US History; her minor fields are America to 1820 and US Women's and Gender History.  She can be contacted by email.

What are some exciting things happening in your life?

Currently, I am preparing for my oral comprehensive exams which I'll be taking mid-June. After that, the rest of my summer will be devoted to finishing my dissertation prospectus. Then I'll be able to start my dissertation in earnest. It's a strange feeling to finally (well, almost!) reach this point in my education. Both have always seemed so far away, so it's really exciting!

Favorite or recommended history books?

This is a really easy question. My absolute favorite book is Rosemarie Zagarri's Revolutionary Backlash. I read it in my first semester in Dr. Kerrison's American Historiography course. I was writing a paper on republican motherhood, and she suggested it. I had been frustrated with the concept of the "republican mother" since I read Linda Kerber's Women of the Republic in my sophomore year of college. Kerber asserted that the political agency of women derived from their domestic roles as wives and mothers. I was so dissatisfied with that thesis! Zagarri's work fills that hole, demonstrating how women were politically active during the Revolution and in the early republic, often in the same ways as men, despite the fact that they were largely disenfranchised. I was actually advised by my undergraduate mentor to apply to graduate programs to study with historians whose books I admired or whose fields of study I wanted to pursue myself. I followed her advice, and I'm lucky enough to be studying with Prof. Zagarri now!

I'd also recommend Susan Klepp's Revolutionary Conceptions, Barbara Clark Smith's The Freedoms We Lost, Kathleen Brown's Good Wives, Nasty Wenches, and Anxious Patriarchs, Kirsten Fischer's Suspect Relations, Catherine Allgor's Parlor Politics, Seth Rockman's Scraping By, and Seth Cotlar's Tom Paine's America, all for selfish reasons. No offense to all other areas of history, but early America is obviously the best :) Okay, so maybe this wasn't such an easy question...

Finally, I'll give a shameless plug for Dr. Kerrison's first book, Claiming the Pen. It's a common trope that in order to learn to write well, you need to read good writing. I recall one phrase of hers--the "tyranny of the candle," referring to her female subjects writing late into the night, and being thwarted by the dimness and ephemerality of the candle. I wish I had her writing skills! And this doesn't count as sucking up--she's not grading my work anymore :)

Why did you seek an MA in History? Before attending Villanova, what did you have in mind, career-wise, after completing the program?  Did you pursue this?  If not, what changed your mind?

I have wanted to pursue a PhD in order to teach at the college level since my undergraduate advisor at Boston College suggested that I look into graduate study when I was a sophomore. The MA in history is obviously a necessary step in achieving the PhD, and Villanova's program was a great fit for me. After my first week of classes, I decided that I really did want to pursue the PhD (it's something you do have to be sure of before you commit!), so I methodically took classes in my two concentrations and with professors who were both phenomenal scholars and educators. I really benefited from the mentors I had in the department, and I think this is a theme you would hear echoed constantly if you were to poll graduate alumni.

Tell us a bit about your experience applying for PhD programs.

I'm sure I have the most absurd story of any PhD student or professor who might get this question. I had the back luck of being rejected from almost every school to which I applied, and in the eleventh hour, I got off a wait list at my top-choice school. Sometimes the stars really do align! I was waitlisted at another school along with a peer of mine from the program; neither of us got off of the waitlist at that school, but he got into a much better one. I think this just goes to show how random and seemingly arbitrary the admissions process can be. Money, professor availability, research interests, and any number of things can be a factor in admissions committees' decisions. A rejection letter certainly does not mean that a candidate is incompetent or undeserving of obtaining a PhD; often, it is due to another matter entirely that is out of the applicant's control.

Give us a brief description of your PhD candidate duties.

I'm a teaching assistant at George Mason. For the past two years, I've TAed for two different professors in Western Civilization courses. I've graded and led discussions intermittently--this is a big course that is required for all students in Humanities and Social Sciences, so most classes are lecture-based. Next year, I'm hoping to TA for a World Civ class which has more opportunities for student interaction, including weekly discussion groups with smaller class sizes.

Tell us a bit about the research you're doing.

My dissertation will (hopefully!) focus on the differences between the lived experiences and prescribed behaviors of marriage and marital discourse. I will be investigating how things like class, gender, print culture, and the Revolution affected men's and women's ideas about their roles as husbands and wives, particularly in Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston between 1750 and 1820.

What do you enjoy about being in a PhD program?  And if you’re comfortable sharing this publicly, what would you say are the less desirable aspects of the gig?

Mason's program is incredibly welcoming and friendly, both among faculty and students. I have a great group of peers. We are not competitive with each other. We're really supportive of each other, helping to organize studying sessions, readings, and the occasional social outing to take a break from work! We've formed several groups--writing groups, digital project working groups, etc.--that really give us a chance to get insightful feedback from unintimidating sources! It's great to be a part of a cohort that shares your interests (especially the nerdy ones!) and is rooting for you to get through this difficult process!

Mason's program is also fairly young, especially relative to other PhD programs. The professors who established it years ago integrated several components that they wished they had experienced in their own graduate education. One, for instance, is our bi-monthly colloquium; we hear lectures from local historians, discuss issues of professional development (presenting at conferences, publishing articles, job interviews, alternative careers to academia, etc.), and we get to enjoy a generally congenial environment (there are cookies!). We are also required to take two semesters of Digital History (one on the theoretical side, another on the practice of digital history) which I honestly wouldn't have done if it were not mandated! I'm glad it was, though. I'm hoping to incorporate a few digital tools and methods into my dissertation!

Pursuing a PhD can be a solitary, and therefore an often lonely endeavor. This can be especially difficult when you get to that point in the semester when you realize that there are not enough hours in the day to finish all of your work. My peers at Mason have been great in combatting these difficulties--after all, we're all in the same boat! Venting sessions, happy hours, movie nights, and other outings are ways that we get around the "less desirable aspects" of working toward a PhD. I've also joined a volleyball team, started going to the gym regularly, and taken a few bike rides from my apartment to the National Mall (the benefits of living near a large metropolitan area!). Sometimes you may feel guilty using "study time" to exercise, but breaks from stressful work really are helpful.

How have the knowledge and skills you developed at VU helped you as you’ve continued deeper into academia?

I came to Villanova almost by accident, but I'm incredibly grateful that I did. I know that my experiences in seminar classes, with research papers, working with my peers in the Rofinot lounge, and having incredible mentors has made all the difference in my education. The program prepared me for the workload and the expectations of a PhD program. Several of my current advisors have commented on the depth of my reading in both early America and women's history, and I know that is a testament to the rigorous coursework at Villanova. Before starting my PhD, I had a strong foundation on which to build my learning and research due to the high quality of my Masters coursework.

Do you have any additional background, training, or experience that’s aided you (examples: another degree or certificate, technical skills, language proficiency, etc.)?

None that I can think of at the moment! Mason actually doesn't have a language requirement for students studying U.S. history (not all programs do--make sure to check each department's requirements!).

What would you tell current students who are contemplating seeking a PhD?

First of all, make sure it's for you. Consult with current students, think about your experience in the program at Villanova, and especially talk to your professors about it. They'll be honest with you about the workload, the realities of the job market, and the practicality of pursuing a PhD.

In terms of the actual application process, it's incredibly important to gauge whether you will be a good fit for a particular program before applying. This was something I wish I had known before applying myself. I would suggest contacting program chairs and potential advisors at programs in which you are interested, and if at all possible, schedule visits to meet with them in person. I don't doubt that some of the main reasons I'm at Mason are that the program has a strong faculty in early American women's history, and that I took the time to meet with the program director. She remembered me, she knew and trusted the recommendation of my advisor, and it made a difference in my situation. Personal connections and networking can be critical in academia just as in any other field.

Any other wisdom you’d like to pass on?

Take advantage of all the resources at your disposal at Villanova, especially in the department. As I have said about a million times in this interview, the faculty are incredible, and I continue to be indebted to them for all they have done for me. I know my peers and other alumni feel the same way--we all had a tough time at graduation!

Also, try the sweet potato fries in Connelly. They are delicious, and got us through a number of paper-writing sessions in Rofinot!

Matthew Kowalski, M.A. '07, Adjunct Professor & Lecturer

Matt graduated in 2007 with a concentration in Modern Europe.  He lives in Media, PA and works as a Lecturer in Delaware County Community College’s History Department and as an Adjunct Professor in Temple University’s Intellectual Heritage Department. He can be contacted by email.

What are some exciting things happening in your life?

Watching (and writing/researching about) entirely too many European Westerns & teaching undergraduates.

What are your favorite or recommended history books?

The answer to this question changes almost yearly. Three things I really liked/have been using recently are Tony Shaw & Denise Youngblood’s Cinematic Cold War, Austin Fisher’s Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western, and Paulina Bren’s The Greengrocer and his TV (really good).

Why did you choose to attend graduate school?

I really had not a clue what one would do with a BA in History with minors in Russian and Philosophy. Grad school seemed like the only natural next step. I was also lucky to have a handful of really great professors (two of whom were Villanova MA in history alums) who pretty much put me through my paces so to speak. Kind of filled me in on what to expect at the next level (both good and bad) & served as a great mentors through the process.

Before attending Villanova, what did you have in mind, career-wise, after completing graduate school?  Did you pursue this?  If not, what changed your mind?

Academia or education of some kind. In that case, I guess I achieved some of those goals. PhD programs have been pushed back for the time being due to a variety of reasons, ranging from immediate post-MA program poverty to the uncertainties surrounding higher education in the aftermath of the current crisis of mature capitalism. There was a period that I was thinking about teaching high school, but the current trend towards ‘standardization’ quickly dampened that thought. Really didn’t see myself teaching young people how to ‘take a test’ and become better consumers/bureaucrats.

Can you please provide us with a short description of your job?

Pretty much a ‘full time’ teaching academic.  The courses are essentially a ‘general’ intro to the Humanities for undergraduates.  Normally, I teach two sections every fall/spring semester & usually one summer section. I also have a more stable position over at DCCC in their history department. Three courses guaranteed every semester. Two Global sections and one upper-level special topics class (Modern Europe, WWI, Modern Russia, etc.).

How did you get involved with your current job/career?

A mixture of desperation & luck. After grad school, I literally had no money. Reduced to waiting to do laundry only when I ran out of clean pairs of drawers and drinking really cheap bottles of bad red wine (Seriously, stuff like Paisano. Not really ‘bum wine’ but disturbingly close).  So, I simply shot gunned my CV out to every history/humanities department in the area and at the end of July got a call requesting an interview over at Temple. As for community college, I was lucky in that one of my old undergraduate mentors teaches in the department. When they wanted to fill this particular position, he stepped up to the plate for me.

What do you enjoy about your job?

First and foremost, providing my undergraduates with ‘tool kit’ to make sense of the world around them. Because of their high school experiences, their idea about ‘history’ is pretty messed-up. However, after about a month or so of course material you start seeing these wonderful moments when the students start making connections not only in the various texts, but with the wider world around them. This occurs in the classroom, in their writing, etc. The ones that ‘get it’ really take a lot out of the material. They just keep wanting more. Hell, over at community college I have a little set of ‘groupies’ that seem to be minoring in ‘Kowalski.’ Some of those students are now doing great things over at places like Penn, Temple, even Yale. It’s great. Kind of like porn for eggheads. I know it sounds a bit corny, but really keeps one going. You also learn a lot from the students themselves. One of the great things about what I do is that you literally are constantly updating your approach. New materials. New themes. New projects.

However, there are certain disadvantages. The pay sucks.  Luckily, DCCC is a union shop. I get benefits, but they’re pretty minimal. Commuting creates conflicts. Not being a tenured professor, I don’t have much time to dedicate to my own research. I can’t pawn my class time/office hours off to slave labor -- I mean graduate students. I get to conferences when I can, but location & timing make it tough. You occasionally sit through faculty/division meetings thinking things like…”Why I am I here? What is my name? What is the meaning of life? Why does this one bloody sociologist seem to think animal rights take precedence over human rights?” 

Probably the most disheartening aspect of the work, however, is the current situation in regards to the Liberal Arts and Sciences more generally. With the continuing commodification of higher education and austerity measures the order of the day, we are literally under siege. Resources are allotted to business schools, engineering departments, and other ‘prestige’ programs. We are left with the crumbs. Administrations are given to re-writing entire curricula to reflect these changes. Over at Temple, they are even taking the once mandatory academic writing courses away from the Department of English and funneling the business/engineering people into special ‘department’ only courses. It’s really making a total mockery of the whole ‘Liberal Arts’ education model.

How have the knowledge and skills you developed as a grad student helped you in your current career?

I want to go back to this idea of a ‘tool kit.’ They really do a wonderful job of filling it, so to speak, at Villanova. If it wasn’t for my 2+ years over there, I wouldn’t be nearly as prepared for my line of work. You know, their program really is the absolute closest thing you can get to a PhD program. The faculty over there introduced me to the latest literature & debates in the field. Entirely new ways of thinking really. Ways of thinking that I incorporate into my work every year. Sometimes things that we read or that someone said in a graduate seminar that at the time seemed not particularly important, but years later bleed into either my teaching or research. You know I have to say, I really could have taken more advantage of it all at the time. I regret that. Still, the most informative two years of my life. I am forever grateful.

Do you have any advice for students who are struggling with the idea of seeking a Ph.D. or are nervous about the job prospects with a M.A. in History?

First of all, take advantage of the resources at hand. Make a point to get to know your professors & colleagues. Pick their brains. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or honest critique, even if the answers are painful/upsetting. If you can reach out those who came before you, do so. If a PhD program is what you are looking at, do your homework. Look at programs. Who is teaching what? What are their research interests? Do I see myself studying and being ‘relatively happy ’tied to this person or institution? Also, really ask yourself ‘What is best in life?’(“To crush your enemies,” etc.) I think a lot of people fall in love with the ‘idea’ of the PhD, but are usually totally unprepared for the reality. Don’t fall into the trap that there is one linear path after this place. Things are difficult at the moment for everyone, but good paying and life rewarding jobs outside of academia do exist.

Do you have any other wisdom to pass on to our graduate students?

I am probably going to sound like a broken record here after what I just said; however, simply take the most out of your experience here. Don’t just come to class and do the readings. Make a point to attend symposiums and other events. Talk to your professors. Really get to know them. Get involved in the ‘community’ of the department. Don’t fear collaboration. Indeed, the most helpful & productive exercises during my time at Villanova were amongst colleagues in the back of smoky bars on the Main Line. Write and research about topics that will open up your horizons. Stuff that you can build upon. Don’t always play it safe. Letter grades aren’t the be all and end all. In a sense this a ‘freest’ time of your lives. You are in bizarre universe where you get to read really important things & discuss/make sense of them. 

Finally, really make a point to ‘liberate’ as much free food and hooch that the institution makes available to you. Those opportunities end once you leave this place.