The History Department at UMass Lowell provides a broad introduction to civilizations of the past and present, including those of antiquity, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Read more...

UMass Lowell History Department Alum Spotlight: Kelley Leonhard (’21)

Kelley Leonhard speaking at UMass Lowell on April 2, 2024. Image by Ed Brennen

Since earning her B.A. in History, Kelley Leonhard has worked to educate people about Boston’s rich and dynamic history. In summer 2022, she became Visitor Experiences Staff for Revolutionary Spaces in Boston, where she spent time in the galleries at either the Old State House or the Old South Meetinghouse conversing with visitors about these historical sites and their legacies. In spring 2023, she began serving as Chief Operating Officer of Cambridge Historical Tours. Her work there has focused on booking groups, managing guides, planning new tours, and social media.

Kelley visited UMass Lowell on Tuesday, April 2, to give two talks to History students. The first was "From UMass Lowell to The Boston History Company: Life after a History Major." Later, she gave the keynote speech, "When Opportunity Knocks, Invite It In," to the History Department's 2024 Phi Alpha Theta inductees.

Meet Our Students and Alumni

Deirdre standing holding poster of project
Deirdre Hutchison '23
History

Deirdre Hutchison was ‘terrified’ when she began college at 47.

UMass Lowell gave me all these amazing opportunities, including study abroad.
Read More About Deirdre Hutchison 
UMass Lowell history student Jaden Belizaire
Jaden Belizaire '22
History

A class in archival methods and a directed study, working in the Lawrence History Center, led Jaden Belizaire to pursue graduate schools for archiving.

My experience in that class made me look more into archiving as a viable career.
Read More About Jaden Belizaire 
Maritza Grooms interviews UMass Lowell Prof. Robert Forrant and Emerging Scholar Sophie Combs about research being done on immigration topics on an episode of History in Lowell
Sophie Combs '20
History

Sophie Combs knows her research is going somewhere: into the online Library of New England Immigration.

Small class sizes and getting to know my professors personally was important to me.
Read More About Sophie Combs 
Group of UMass Lowell students pose at an outdoor site in Madrid, Spain
Nicholas Trunfio '23
Business

Nicholas Trunfio immersed himself in history while studying abroad.

One of my hopes is to be a history teacher later on in life.
Read More About Nicholas Trunfio 
Neil Oliveria pictured with his family after being inducted into history honors society, Phi Alpha Theta
Neil Oliveria '18, '19
History & Education

Neil Oliveria, already a grandfather, is pursuing degrees in history and education so he can embark on a new career as a teacher.

Coming to UMass Lowell is the best decision I’ve made in the past 20 years.
Read More About Neil Oliveria 

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