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. 

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.