Chris Hillyer 2014 (M.A., World History)
Assistant Media Editor - History, W.W. Norton & Co.
Q: What did you like about the program?
A: I liked that it is a smaller program; I think that lends itself towards creating more of a community. I knew most, if not all, of the classmates I graduated with and we were able to help one another in many ways. I also thought that the professors running the program and administrative staff (Christina, you are absolutely amazing!) were very helpful throughout the process. I was also happy to help begin the peer mentor program, which I hope is still running strong!
Q: How did your experience in the Master’s program influence your choices concerning further education or work?
A: Although the program itself was great, and I developed as a historian, I ultimately decided that further education was not in the cards for me after finishing my Master’s. I therefore decided to seek employment through internships through the last semester at Rutgers while many students were applying to doctoral programs. I was offered a job in the history department at Norton about a week after I walked at graduation and I started full time work in June of 2014.
Q: What aspect of your training in history shaped your professional experience?
A: In my line of work, I am able to grasp larger themes within history, and across subject matters. By this point I am familiar with many topics in history and while I have my speciality which I worked within during grad school, I find that a higher knowledge of history helps me to edit and create a wide variety of materials that support the history textbooks my company prints.
Q: What would you recommend about the program?
A: I would recommend the fact that although this program is not tiny by some measures (class size can float up to 20 students), it is a very tight knit community of students and professors. I felt as though our professors and administrative staff were extremely helpful in accommodating my interests as a burgeoning historian.
Q: Do you have any advice for current graduate students?
A: For students in the graduate program now, I would suggest that they fully consider their options and try to think outside of the box when considering a career path. I would also ask them to find confidence in their knowledge and how that is adaptable outside of the world of education, and to learn to market their skills effectively in order to become more desirable in today’s job market.
Describe your experience in three (3) words or phrases:
"McGovern's is awesome!"