Spotlights and Testimonials

loren pumphrey

My journey to Sam Houston was a lot different from what people expected. One of the main reasons I came to the school was to be with my cousin, who at the time was attending the University. She had told me so many wonderful things about the campus and it made me decide to come here and experience it for myself. When I came here, I fell in love with the campus and the environment. As someone who just recently graduated with a BA in History and a minor in German, I learned so many new things that have helped me understand the true importance of what life at Sam is like. There have been several faculty members and staff members who have played a huge role in my success at SHSU. Those names are Professor Silke Bugge, Professor Aaron Hyams, Professor David Mayes, Professor Bernadette Pruitt, Professor Stephen Rapp, Kendis Smith, Madison Seagraves, and Michelle Seagraves. 

Currently, as my journey at Sam comes to an end, I will be attending the University of Graz in Austria, where I plan on studying the history of Southeastern Europe. Learning German has been extremely beneficial and one of my favorite courses to learn at Sam. Silke Bugge is an amazing woman, and she has been someone who doesn't give up on kids and who loves what she does. My advice for students coming into college is focusing on your studies, but at the same time live a little because your closest friends will always support you no matter what. You will continue to grow no matter what, and your closest friends can change your life. 

kayleigh berger

Taking Dr. Doleshal’s Public History Internship class was one of the best experiences I’ve had at SHSU. I worked for the Walker County Historical Commission at the Gibbs-Powell Home and Walker County History Museum. Over the course of the summer, they helped me experience public history in almost every conceivable way: I cleaned historical markers, learned the museum tour, processed records in the Commission’s archives, and designed flyers and promotional materials.

My internship culminated in a massive curatorial research project centered on a Historical Marker for Richard Williams, Walker County’s first Black legislator, that the Commission planned to unveil. I spent weeks researching Rep. Williams, building a six-part exhibit on his life, planning the dedication ceremony, and tracking down his descendants. My exhibit debuted at the ceremony, where I had the opportunity to deliver remarks on Rep. Williams in front of dozens of his descendants, who had flown in from across the country. My internship enabled me to learn valuable public history skills, identify a topic for my thesis, and, ultimately, make a difference in the community. I’m so grateful to the WCHC, Dr. Doleshal, and the History Department for the fantastic experience!   

ty hilliard

Ty Hilliard graduated from Sam Houston State University in May 2024 with a bachelor's degree in History and a minor in Spanish. Today, he is a Park Ranger at Waco Mammoth National Monument, where he shares one of the world's most unique paleontological discoveries with visitors every day.

"As a park ranger, I primarily give tours," Ty said. "The Waco Mammoth National Monument is the only recorded instance of a Columbian mammoth nursery herd ever being uncovered in the world."

Although Ty always knew he wanted to study history, he wasn't sure where it would lead.

"I always knew I wanted to major in history, but I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with it," he said. "I pretty much knew I didn't want to go into teaching, so I was keeping my options open."

Everything changed when he enrolled in the Public History course taught by Dr. Zachary Doleshal.

"It wasn't until I took the Public History class that the History Department offers under Dr. Doleshal that I really found a passion for going into public history."

That class led to a public history internship at the Samuel Walker Houston Museum in Huntsville during the summer of 2023—an experience Ty credits with helping launch his career.

"That internship really helped separate me from other candidates for what I'm doing now."

Looking back, Ty says one of the greatest lessons he learned at SHSU was how to market the skills his degree provided.

"Rather than marketing my degree, I market the skills I learned from that degree," he explained. "Research, learning how to present information in a tangible format, and other practical skills have helped me move forward whenever roadblocks come up."

The Public History course remains one of the most impactful classes he took at Sam Houston.

"It was probably one of the best classes I took because it was so hands-on. We maybe only spent five actual days in the classroom, and the rest of the time we were doing practical work in museums."

Now working in the field he loves, Ty is excited for what comes next.

"I'm very fortunate that I got a public history job right out of college," he said. "A lot of my friends who also took public history courses and internships haven't been able to find jobs in those fields yet, so I'm just glad to be doing what I love."

For current students, Ty's advice is straightforward: take advantage of every opportunity to gain experience.

"The one thing I could recommend the most is doing internships," he said. "During my interview, a lot of the questions were about whether I had experience working in a museum or in public history. Having that experience under your belt right out of college can make or break the deal."

He also encourages students to build relationships with the people around them.

"Don't be so introverted. Make friends with the people in your department because you're going to see them in a lot of your classes. Get to know the people around you, and you'll make some really good, lasting friendships."

His final piece of advice is to invest in relationships with faculty.

"Get on your professors' good side because when it comes time for internships, letters of recommendation, or just help in general, you really want them advocating for you."

Ty's journey demonstrates how hands-on learning, meaningful connections, and taking advantage of opportunities at SHSU can open doors to a rewarding career doing what you love.

kevon hunter

Life after graduation is a daunting time for many students. Often, students are worried they will not be able to find a job and are pressured by many people to figure out their next steps quickly. Additionally, in the months leading up to graduation, students are having to juggle completing schoolwork, staying involved in extracurriculars, and finding time to apply to graduate school or a job in their field. While the journey to graduation and a job may be challenging, preparing for a successful future before graduation can make a world of a difference.

Kevon Hunter, a Sam Houston State alum, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2016 and a Master of Arts in History in 2018. During his time at SHSU, Hunter was a student athlete playing football and was an active member in the history club on campus. Despite his limited free-time, he managed to schedule time to volunteer at numerous museums in Huntsville, including the Samuel Walker Houston Memorial Museum, The Wynne Home and Arts Center, and the Texas Prison Museum. He also interned for George Ranch Park in Richmond for six months. He was then offered a full-time position, and he currently serves as a Programs and Volunteer Coordinator. “Although it may seem surprising to most people, this field is very competitive, and it can be difficult to try to get a job by just completing basic schoolwork. So, I would take opportunities to volunteer to get extra training and become familiar with different databases,” Hunter said.

While his volunteerism helped him excel in his career field, Hunter also praises his time in the classroom at Sam Houston. In his current position at George Ranch Park, he is tasked with performing reenactments of famous historical figures, as he once did in a history class during undergrad. “In Dr. Doleshal’s class, he used a teaching tool where we would act as characters in history and kind of live in those people’s shoes. We were able to see their decision-making process and understand it better,” Hunter said. Overall, those skills set him apart from other applicants because he can tell a narrative from a historical figures’ point of view and make it interesting to the audience.

Clinical Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University, Dr. Zachary Doleshal, worked closely with Hunter and served as a mentor for him during his time at the university. The two worked on an exhibit on segregation in Walker County, where Hunter was able to grasp the ethics and basic practices of public history at a more succinct level. “Through his experience in the project, he became a very good candidate for a job. While he’s highly intelligent, he can relate to the general public and make people feel comfortable and engaged in what he’s interested in. He learned how to put the truth and evidence first and then take that and apply it,” Doleshal said. While the education he received in various classes set him up for success, Hunter succeeded because of his hunger for knowledge and determination to learn.

Looking ahead, Hunter hopes to become a museum director, using his current position as a the first steppingstone. Since beginning work at George Ranch Park in 2019, Hunter said he’s learned a lot and has remained committed to his love of history. Presently, he is a member of the Fort Bend Archaeological Society as well as the George Ranch Rodeo Committee.

Hunter serves as a great example of a person whose drive and passion set them on the right track to gaining a successful career in public history.