Rhianna C. Rogers '10 Alumnus

Dr. Rhianna C. Rogers current lives in Buffalo, NY and working as Assistant Professor of Cultural Studies (Tenure-Track) SUNY-Empire State College (2010-present)When I transferred to Florida Atlantic University from the University of Pittsburgh 1999, I had no idea that I would spend the next 11 years of my life attending this institution. Looking back on it now, I am so happy that I did! Based on the length of time I spent at FAU, it is hard for me to sum up the impact that FAU has had on my life.

However, I can say, unequivocally, that the experiences that I gained at FAU and affiliated with the History Department have shaped me into the person and academic I am today. I literally grew up at this Institution and in this program; I gained friends, learned about myself and my analytical capabilities, and, ultimately, decided what I wanted to do with my career once I graduated.

In sum, I started at FAU as a student-athlete and an Anthropology Major (1999-2002). I was always a very inquisitive learner and took a number of courses in various fields as an undergraduate. However, I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do. After speaking with the (then) Department Chair, Dr. Sandra Norman and learned about courses in offered in the History Department, I realized that historical studies could enrich my interests in culture and people.

Once I took a few history courses, I learned just how much historical knowledge could help me and I was instantly hooked; I took as many history courses as I could before I graduated. It was not long after my BA graduation that I began my M.A. degree in the History Department where I worked as a Teaching Assistant (TA) 2002-2004. I had such a good experience in my M.A. program that I decided to stay at FAU and continue to work as a TA for the History Department while completing my PhD in Comparative Studies (2004-2007). Over the years, the faculty and staff in the History Department supported me in such a way that I was able to discover my analytical abilities and develop into a strong critical thinker and academic.

I truly believe that the History Department was instrumental in molding my academic pursuits and pushing me to be the scholar I am today. To this day, I still consult History professors at FAU for career guidance and insights into Higher Education. Their support and continued involvement in my life and career have been invaluable. After I received my PhD, I accepted a tenure-track position in the Department of Cultural Studies at State University of New York-Empire State College (SUNY-ESC).

I now enjoy a professional affiliation with FAU. In spring 2012 I was a member of a FAU Physics dissertation committee (Natalia E. Romero’s Stochastic Processes in the Social Sciences: Market, Prices and Wealth Distributions); I also organized a lecture for Dr. Romero at the Buffalo Museum of Science, based on her dissertation research and our collaborative work together; and I am currently working on a comparative paper with Dr. Harry Kersey, Professor of Emeritus of History at FAU. Based on the support I received while at FAU, I feel it important to stay involved in the Owl community. I truly feel indebted to both FAU and the History Department and I pride myself of being a positive reflection of its academic excellence.