Nathan Brooks

Nathan enjoys learning through exploring history. Through several experiences across Knox College and study abroad, Brooks has also developed an interest in museum studies and German history. He plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a Master's in Science in library science with a concentration in archives and records management.

What is your major, and why did you pick it? 

My major is history. I knew that I wanted to go into history before I even started applying to colleges. I was initially interested because I simply liked learning about history. However, when I got to Knox and began learning about the methodologies historians use and how complex and intricate the field really is, my passion for history only solidified. My two minors, art museum studies and German, were not initially what I wanted to study. I originally wanted to minor in music, but when I started taking coursework at Knox, I found my passion for those fields as well.

Where did you study abroad, and what was that experience like? What value did that add to your Knox experience?

I studied abroad in Heidelberg, Germany, with the American Junior Year. It was a phenomenal experience. I had the opportunity to take classes at one of the oldest universities in the world (Universität Heidelberg) and become an official student and later an alum. I was accepted into this community of people I would otherwise never have met or interacted with. I met so many interesting and intelligent people with whom I became really great friends. I also got to travel around Europe and Germany and see so many cool places. I was able to greatly improve my understanding of the German language, which was particularly useful last term, as I was taking a 300-level history course on Nazi Germany. I furthermore use German often for my Honors project, and I participated in an internship at a museum in Heidelberg, which gave me experience in both museum work and research.

What are some things you are involved with at Knox? 

I am the president of the History Club. We organize events where we promote the study of history, but we try to make it into a fun space. We've thrown a trivia night, a "History Showdown," where we had a discussion on which historic leaders would win in a fight, and we are organizing a weekly history table, similar to how the language departments get together once a week for lunch. I am also on the President Student Advisory Council (PSAC), which consists of a group of Knox students who assist the president by offering advice pertaining to how decisions will affect the student population. I am also a general member of other clubs, such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Many of my friends are on the executive team of said club, so I often go to support their activities.

Where do you see yourself after graduation? 

I was accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a Master's in Science in library science with a concentration in archives and records management. I will attend UNC in the 27/28 academic year. Archives work was never something that was on my radar. I initially wanted to pursue a Ph.D. immediately after Knox and become a professor. However, when I started working at the Knox College Special Collections and Archives, I discovered a passion for preservation and decided that is what I wanted to pursue professionally. I would love to work as an archivist, and would especially want to pursue work in the museum field.

What has been your favorite class outside your major, and why? 

Actually, because I took dual credits in high school, I haven't had to take any classes outside of my major, and I am graduating a year early. The closest thing I have taken at Knox that is not technically part of my major would be my first-year preceptorial. It was Gen-Z: Critical Thinking, and my professor was Burkhardt Distinguished Associate Professor of History Konrad Hamilton. As the title suggests, the class really made you think. Hamilton had such a distinct teaching style that was really engaging. You could tell that he cared a lot about the class and used elements of his own field of expertise in African-American history to guide the class, which I always found really engaging as a history major. I still use many of the skills that I learned from him. I was really lucky to have him as my FP instructor and my advisor until he retired. It really was an excellent and useful introduction to college classes that I won't forget, and he was a great mentor.