Our education is hands-on, with advanced research and mentorship opportunities that are truly unique at the undergraduate level. Students in H&S work side by side with our world-class faculty, gaining access to cutting-edge technology and directly engaging in work that advances human understanding and contributes meaningfully to the betterment of the world. In so doing, our students gain practical skills that prepare them for professional success, as well as the agility to navigate ever-evolving technological, economic, environmental, and cultural contexts. As a central guiding principle, an H&S education affirms that students must acquire the intellectual flexibility to adapt to constantly changing circumstances, as well as the confidence and imagination to envision solutions to our society's most pressing problems. Our graduates go on to become active, compassionate members of their communities and knowledgeable leaders in their fields, equipped with an invaluable understanding of the relationship between the day-to-day work they do and its impact on the larger world in which they aspire to be engaged citizens.
Why Study The Liberal Arts?
Michelle Strucke '07 graduated from the School of Humanities & Sciences with a degree in sociology, concentration in race and ethnic relations, and a minor in politics. In 2021, Michelle was appointed by President Biden to serve in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Policy, initially as Principal Director for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs, and then as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships. As a lifelong humanitarian and human rights advocate thrust into the Defense space, appointed as the senior most official at the Pentagon focused on human rights and humanitarian affairs, she both learned new perspectives on the most pressing issues of the time and brought a human-centered lens to DOD’s policies, including COVID-19 and other disaster responses, atrocity prevention; women, peace, and security; civilian protection and peacekeeping and stability operations.
Jusan Hamilton ’13 earned a dual degree in Sociology and Integrated Marketing Communications. In his short career, Jusan has had several barrier-breaking moments which set historical milestones in the growth of NASCAR. In 2017, Hamilton took command of the race control tower for a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California for the first time becoming the youngest and the first black Race Director in NASCAR dating back to 1948. In 2018 Hamilton became the first Black Race Director in NASCAR Cup Series History at Pocono Raceway, in Long Pond Pennsylvania. "To be the first just means that things are going in the right direction for NASCAR as a whole," Jusan said in an interview with NBC Sports. "The sport's more open and accessible to a wider demographic to come to a track, experience a race for themselves as fan, live the same thrill that I did as a kid sparking my passion, and in the end, join a similar journey."
Samantha Schrell ’12 earned her BS in chemistry in 2012, and her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry in 2015 from Florida State University. In 2015, she was awarded the Innovations in Fuel Cycle Research Award for her work with californium. In 2016, she joined Los Alamos National Laboratory as an Agnew National Security postdoctoral fellow under the guidance of Dr. Stosh A. Kozimor. In January 2017, she received the Marie Curie distinguished postdoctoral fellowship, where her research efforts could be broadly described in terms of actinide intermetallics, coordination chemistry, solid-state synthesis, separations, and superconductivity. In July 2018, she converted to a staff scientist in the metal production group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In the fall of 2019, she joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the isotope applications research group where she continues to study and find improvements for californium production.
Ryan A. Jefferis '12 earned his B.A. in Physics. He is currently an Aerospace Systems Engineer, building a road to space in Blue Origin’s human spaceflight program, where he has been integrating avionics into rockets since 2019. In 2015, Ryan completed his Masters’ degree in Biomedical Engineering at Cornell, culminating in the design of an orthopedic joint replacement prosthesis. He then supported a team of biologists in Japan working to grow kidneysin vitro. After that, he spent 3 years developing PPE for orthopedic surgeons, and is now lead inventor on 5 patents.
Nate Harnett '13 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He then earned his PhD in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed postdoctoral training at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Nate is now an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School where he leads the Neurobiology of Affective and Traumatic Experiences Laboratory. His laboratory works to uncover the brain basis for why people develop trauma and stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He and his team use multimodal neuroimaging, psychophysiology, and behavioral assessments to probe cognitive-affective function in individuals recently exposed to trauma. The laboratory also seeks to understand how pre-traumatic influences like deprivation and childhood trauma affect how people respond to later stressful events. Nate’s research program receives funding through several federal and private agencies including the National Institutes of Health, The Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and the Department of Defense. His team’s research has been published in major psychiatry journals such as The American Journal of Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, and Molecular Psychiatry, with press recognition from outlets such as CNN, PBS, and TODAY.