Majors: Africana Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
“A liberal arts education has helped me become a better problem solver and has enhanced my ability to adapt in an ever changing workforce.”
Deonte came to Gettysburg because the environment felt like a home away from home for him. The academic reputation, small class sizes, and proximity to his hometown of Baltimore also helped make his decision. His education comprised of both classroom and out of class learning experiences. Interacting with faculty and staff on campus helped him realize that he can too have a career in student affairs; thus helping students achieve their academic and leadership potential. His double major grew his passion for serving students from underprivileged/underrepresented backgrounds on college campuses. Deonte is currently the Tutoring Manager at The Princeton Review. His advice to current students: Success is defined by the individual. Do not be afraid to travel a path unpaved. Networking and building relationships is key to career success.
Majors: Africana Studies, International Affairs
Rashida came to Gettysburg because of its strong academic reputation and the many opportunities available for students outside of the classroom. She double-majored in Africana Studies and International Affairs. Currently an Underwriter Trainee for an insurance company, Rashida’s majors set the foundation for her ability to think critically and acting proactively when trying to find solutions to problems. Her advice to current students: You might have to take a different road than you first planned on. Never lose sight of what’s important to you, but be flexible and open to different opportunities.
Majors: Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
“Gettysburg College provided an academic and experiential platform for me to explore a multitude of interests–communications, public relations, politics, and social justice–all areas which are still important to me and have shaped my career path.”
Lawrese Brown decided to attend Gettysburg because she saw that the faculty were genuinely invested in the success of their students. She double-majored in Africana Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies. She is the founder of Brown Coaching and Consulting, LLC, an organization that promotes confidence, resilience, and achievement in high school and college students. Before that, she managed a program in a non-profit that focused on career readiness for first-generation college students. Brown credits her Africana Studies courses with training her to understand and articulate complex issues. Here advice to current students: never be afraid to start over, always give back, and always have a goal in mind.
Majors: Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
“My liberal arts education, especially in relation to my major and work I did through Africana Studies and the Center for Public Service, played a huge role in shaping the person I am today.”
Kirsty came to Gettysburg because she wanted a small liberal arts institution where she could foster strong relationships with students, faculty, and staff. She double-majored in Africana Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies. Her courses and interactions with professors allowed her to form new world perspectives and lead to her current commitment to communities of color. Kirsty is currently a Showroom Manager at Bella Bridesmaids while also pursuing a Masters in International Affairs at the New School. Her advice to current students: don’t think small, and always connect and learn through the people around you.
Major: Africana Studies
“You make your own career success by identifying your strengths, finding what interests you, and doing that to the highest level possible, while not caring about what anyone else thinks about it.”
Melanie Cooper followed in her father’s footsteps by attending Gettysburg. She is currently making a career transition into the legal field as a paralegal. When Cooper enrolled at Gettysburg, she thought about being a history major until she took her first Introduction to Africana Studies course with Prof. Scott Hancock. She now has dreams of being a legal scholar in the Africana Studies field.
“The Africana Studies department taught me to be a critical thinker who thinks outside the box,” said Cooper. “The department helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses as a student, which helped my career search tremendously.”
Major: Anthropology, Africana Studies (Minor)
“Gettysburg impacted my career because it allowed me to be well rounded. I never thought I would end up in the financial industry, but learning about different cultures, people. And how to adapt to different situations is what helped me get the job I am in today!”
Georgia came to Gettysburg because of the atmosphere and the sense of community. As soon as she stepped foot on campus she knew that this is where she belonged. She majored in anthropology and minored in Africana Studies. Currently she is a Retirement Sales Associate at Empower Retirement in Boston, as well as a Marketing Intern at dLife in Connecticut. Her advice to students: take every single opportunity that is presented to you. Study abroad, join clubs and organizations, talk to everyone; connections will impact your career and send you down new paths.
Majors: English, Africana Studies (minor)
“Gettysburg's liberal arts focus allowed me to take a broad selection of courses that often fell outside my comfort zone, such as theater, ethnomusicology, and computer science and coding. These courses helped give me a greater global perspective, as well as a better sense of my own abilities.”
Edward Graham came to Gettysburg College because of its small size, academic reputation, and diverse selection of courses. Its tight-knit community allowed him to form close relationships with students and faculty. Edward majored in English and minored in Africana Studies, but took advantage of the opportunity to sample numerous other courses including computer science, history, and ethnomusicology. After graduating in 2012, he worked as an editorial consultant for the National Education Association’s communications department. Edward is currently pursuing a master’s degree in investigative journalism and public affairs at American University. A liberal arts education from Gettysburg gave him a wide range of skills and a greater global perspective that has been useful in his work in communications and enabled him to quickly find work after graduation. His advice to current students: take a variety of classes before choosing a major. Even if you have an idea of what you want to study, exploring other academic fields and activities is crucial to the liberal arts experience.
Major: History
Minor: Africana Studies
“Take completely random classes with new professors you’ve never had. You may realize you have other interests, ones that could lead you to a meaningful career and future.”
The historic location of Gettysburg College and the strength of the history program drew Celia Hartz to the campus. Along the way, she enrolled in Africana Studies courses and found it “wonderfully unique.”
“While there are core classes for AFS, the rest of the courses are from many disciplines such as Music, History, and English which allowed me to work with different professors and understand how they interpret Africana Studies,” said Hartz. She currently works as the Extended Operations Specialist at Musselman Library while she works on her master’s in Library and Information Science from Drexel University.
Major: Sociology, Africana Studies (Minor)
“Someone recommended Sociology as a major and after a few classes in both Sociology and Africana Studies, I became fascinated with the opportunities in both fields.”
Unique majored in Sociology and minored in Africana studies. She came to Gettysburg with a business major in mind, but found interest in education inequality, and turned to Sociology and Africana Studies. She is currently an Admission Counselor at Lebanon Valley College. Prior to this, she was a College Advisor at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, and served two years with the College Advising Corps. As an Admission Counsellor, Unique shares her experience at Gettysburg to encourage students and parents to consider the countless opportunities at liberal arts colleges. Her advice to current students: network, utilize faculty and staff on campus, and to do what you love; follow through with what your passionate about.
Majors: Africana Studies, History
“There isn’t one way to achieve a liberal arts degree. You can mix and match courses, internships, externships, volunteer work, and extracurriculars to fit your interests, goals, and abilities.”
Lauren Roedner came to Gettysburg College because of the unique Civil War related opportunities available to her with being in close proximity to the battlefield. She worked as an archivist at the Adams County Historical Society and as a Scholarly Communications Assistant at Musselman Library. She is now working at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.
“Working as an archivist in a public archive requires a lot of creativity and critical thinking to make the best use of the knowledge, money, labor, and other resources available to you,” said Roedner. She credits her liberal arts education for preparing her to think about projects from more than one perspective. She has several publications and has been named to editorial boards for journals and associations in her field.
Majors: Psychology and Africana Studies
Robia came to Gettysburg for the same reason that countless other students did: it felt like the right place to live and study for the next four years of her life. She majored in Africana Studies and Psychology, which started her on her career path to the mental health field. After graduating, Robia accepted a position as a Lead Clinician at NorthEast Treatment Centers, a dual diagnosis and treatment facility. She is currently a primary therapist at the Renfrew Center in Randor, PA, an eating disorder treatment facility, and is also a licensed social worker for the state of Pennsylvania. Robia’s liberal arts education gave her the foundation and flexibility to pursue and succeed in a wide range of potential careers. Her advice to current students is to take advantage of the career resources available through Gettysburg College, from internships and job shadows to networking dinners in order to learn, connect, and gain experience.