Putting History to Work: Careers

Recently we asked alumnae and alumni history majors to tell us about their career and educational paths. The response was overwhelming—and overwhelmingly positive. A sampling of the types of post-graduate pursuits alums have enjoyed follows, along with their reflections on the impact that a degree from Vassar in history has made on their lives. As our alums attest, the options are countless, providing a host of choices, “allowing you to reinvent yourself again and again.” We thank our alums, some fresh out of Vassar, some full of decades of experience, for providing rich perspectives on life after Vassar.

This is but a short list of the many careers history majors who graduated from Vassar have gone on to pursue. Alums with many years of experience look back to their history major at Vassar as a formative moment that opened many doors. As Jennifer Baswick Ward ’65 concurs: “I often think of history majors as being very well rounded and prepared for just about any career.” In short, a history degree offers incredible adaptability and a range of useful skills that give our majors a host of exciting options to explore in “Life after Vassar.”

Header image: Feodora Cerón (Mexican), Band Sampler, 1857, Wool embroidery on cotton, Gift of Mrs. James W. Packard (Elizabeth Gillmer, class of 1894), Photo credit: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center