Do you have questions about selecting a History Specialization, Major, or Minor degree plan? Talk to a Peer Advisor!
Peer Advisors are upper-year History students who have experienced many of the same things you are experiencing and are trained to answer your questions about how to select a Major or Specialization, what you need to Major in History, and how to do well in your History classes. Peer Advisors are available from September through April. If you have questions about PATH, please email hist.undergrad@queensu.ca.
Click here to book an appointment with a PATH advisor
Meet the 2025-2026 PATH team:
Mariana Garic
Hi History students! My name is Mariana Garic, and I am a fourth-year student studying History and politics in the joint-honors program. I have also completed the certificate in law program. I am so glad to be a history major as this department has some truly special opportunities for undergraduates to pursue independent research and gain historical writing skills.
Some of my favourite history courses at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ include, "Africa in the Modern World," "The Arab-Israel Conflict in Global Perspective," and a seminar on "Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures in the Medieval Mediterranean." Last winter, I presented my research paper at the Inquiry@ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Undergraduate Research Conference.
As a PATH advisor, I am happy to inform and encourage prospective history students to take advantage of this opportunity to be a published presenter. Outside of history, I work at Common Ground Coffeehouse on campus and tutor for the Read for Fun program. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences in the history department and answering questions from those considering joining this program!
Morgan Garratt
Hi everyone! My name is Morgan, and I am a fourth-year student specializing in History with a minor in Political Studies. One of my favourite aspects of the History Department is the wide range of internship and experiential learning opportunities available which provide hands-on experiences beyond the lecture hall. I had the opportunity to complete the HIST 512 internship at Bellevue House National Historic Site and gain experience in heritage education program development. This upcoming year, I look forward to taking part in the HIST 502 internship at the Queen’s University Archives. I also went on exchange this past winter semester and attended Cardiff University, Wales which was a rewarding experience that enriched my education.
I am incredibly passionate about the history program at Queen’s and am always happy to chat with other students. Whether you have questions about degree requirements, need advice on course selection, or want to learn more about the opportunities the department has to offer, I am here to help!
Jane O'Bright
Hi I am Jane , a third-year student double majoring in History and Psychology here at Queen’s. I’m thrilled to be a Peer Advisor for the Department of History for the 2025–2026 academic year and to connect with students who are passionate about the past and how it continues to shape the present in meaningful ways.
One of the things I value most about the History program at Queen’s is its flexibility and interdisciplinary nature. Double majoring has allowed me to explore a wide range of topics, and I’ve found that History and Psychology complement each other in really unique and insightful ways. It’s something many students do here, and it truly reflects how dynamic and customizable the Queen’s experience can be.
My academic interests include environmental, natural, and animal history, particularly topics like eco-fascism and the changing relationship between humans and the natural world. I’m also fascinated by the psychological dimensions of history: how people process, remember, and are shaped by historical events.
Outside of academics, I love hiking, paint-by-numbers, cooking, and anything related to animals. Whether you’re looking for study tips, want to talk through course options, or just need a friendly chat about university life, I’m always happy to connect and support you on your journey through the History program!
Lauren Patterson
Hello Queen’s History Students! My name is Lauren Patterson and I am a 4th year student in the Concurrent Education program with teachables in History and Music. Over my past few years at Queen’s I have worked with several museums around Kingston including the Frontenac County Schools Museum, the Museum of Healthcare at Kingston, the Royal Military College Museum and Murney Tower where I created an online bilingual accessibility guide for school groups wishing to visit the historical site. Additionally, for the past three summers, I have been a member of the Fort Henry Guard (UNESCO World Heritage Site), as a linguistic interpreter, guiding groups of people around the fortification’s exhibits to provide an experience of what life was like in a British military regiment in 1867.
Pursuing a history degree is possibly the best decision you could make; learning about history is to learn the very foundations of society and culture. It is from studying, remembering, and understanding history that we can learn from it. I have taken a diverse number of History courses at Queen’s and I am more than happy to tell you all about them. Outside of History, I love music! I play several instruments, including piano, ukulele, the fife, and percussion (I am actually a tenor drummer in the Pipes and Drums Corps with the Queen’s Marching Band). I am an absolute bookworm (always looking for suggestions), I love to bake (I have a really good lemon square recipe if anyone is interested) and I tell ghost stories around Kingston with the Haunted Walk. I am so excited to be a PATH advisor, and to meet everyone! If you ever need any advice or just want to chat, you are more than welcome to reach out!
Samuel Rankin
Hi everyone! My name is Samuel, and I am a fourth-year student in the Joint Honours History and Religion program at Queen’s. I remember how overwhelming it felt to navigate my first year and choose the right degree plan, which is why I am excited to serve as a PATH advisor. My goal is to help new students feel confident, informed, and supported as they explore the path that works best for them. My academic interests include global history, cultural and religious studies, and historiography. I plan to pursue a career in teaching after graduation. Outside of my studies, I enjoy running along the Kingston waterfront. I look forward to meeting you and to helping make your experience in the history program both positive and rewarding.
PATH Alumni
Arianne Ettehadieh (BAH '24)
Volunteering as a PATH Advisor has to be one of my favourite memories from my time at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Speaking to younger students about potentially pursuing a history degree was great fun. I saw myself in the various students I talked to. Knowing the valuable interpersonal skills one gains from a history degree was something I liked to emphasize in my conversations with students. Critical thinking, writing, research, and communication skills apply to every facet of life! I will miss the history department and the fascinating courses and discussions we were encouraged to have with our peers and professors. I am eager to see a new cohort of students take advantage of the wonderful internship and research opportunities that brought me and every other history student I spoke to closer to the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and Kingston communities. So long, PATH!
Haley Allen (BAH '24)
I decided to become a PATH advisor in order to help first and second year students discover their passion for History. I also wanted to help promote the internship, study abroad, and seminar course opportunities offered through the History Department. My favourite part of being a PATH advisor was connecting with students and watching them select a degree plan which they previously had not considered for themselves. My favourite aspect of my History degree at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ was my HIST212 internship at Beyond Classrooms Kingston; this internship allowed me to gain practical experiences in the field of historical teaching and hone my organizational, project management, and collaboration skills. After graduation, I will be entering my final year as a Bachelor of Education student. From there, my plan is to become a high school History and English teacher, eventually getting my Masters of Education.
Massimo Recupero (BAH '24)
I chose to become a PATH advisor as it allowed me to combine my love of education and history! Supporting prospective History students at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ was highly rewarding as an aspiring educator. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a History student and am grateful for the opportunity to share some of the experiences that made my degree so special with first-year students. My favourite part of my History degree at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ was the ample course offerings; no matter what area of History you are interested in, the Department is sure to offer a class for you! I was able to tailor my courses towards social history, with an emphasis on the history of race, gender, and sexuality. I will be starting my Bachelor of Education year in September to become a History and Drama teacher, and look forward to incorporating all that I have learned in my future studies and teaching practice! I also look forward to furthering my experience with mentorship programming as the Student Experience Office Mentorship Programs Student Lead this summer.
Emily Viau (BAH '22)
My experience as a History student has been amazing! There are so many options when it comes to courses and I really felt like I was learning about topics I was truly interested in. I absolutely love the seminars offered in upper years. I feel I learn so much more and am more engaged with the course content than in lecture. I enjoyed how rewarding seminars were when contributing to discussion. Because the classes are smaller, I also had the opportunity to build connections with my professors and utilize office hours to improve my papers. I chose to be a PATH advisor because I wanted other students to know how spectacular the history program at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ is and wanted to make an impact by helping first year students select their degree plan. Being a PATH advisor is extremely rewarding. I felt like I was helping every student I talked with and they seemed to really enjoy and benefit from hearing about my experiences as a history student. In this role I was able to improve my communication and leadership skills and being on a team improved my creativity and collaboration skills, all which will be essential for any future career. I am now pursuing a Master's in Cultural Studies here at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, applying what I've learned in my undergrad to another field to further my knowledge and focus my research.
Sarah Lewis (BAH '22)
I completed my degree majoring in History with a Political Studies minor. In first year, I really enjoyed my History courses and decided to major in it. HIST 121 Intellectual Origins and HIST 122 Making of the Modern World were my favourite courses in my first year.
In my third year, I chose to become a PATH advisor because I had an upper year history mentor in my first year and I found it really helpful. I think it is rewarding to be able to offer your knowledge to first year students as well as create a sense of community within History. My favourite part of my History degree was attending seminars and specifically learning about Russian history. I am hoping to continue within history by pursing a Master’s Degree.
Rachel Minor (BAH '22)
I chose to become a PATH advisor because I wanted to help first year students have an easier transition to the upper year history program, and to provide them with a lot of information. I enjoyed meeting the different students, the other members of PATH, and working with the faculty members who assist us. My favourite part of my history degree at Queen’s was being able to take a wide variety of courses, the extracurricular learning activities, and how understanding and knowledgeable the professors were in each class. My plans after graduation is to do the Bachelor of Education, and become a high school History teacher.
Kaitlyn Cloutier (BAH 22')
After taking my first history class at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, I knew that I wanted to be a history major. During my fourth year, I made the decision to become more involved with the department and it was such a rewarding experience. The department is so welcoming and made the anxiety around taking on a new role fade away. Being a member of PATH gave me valuable experience that I have taken into my graduate career, if you have the chance to become a peer mentor I could not recommend it enough. I met so many amazing individuals through the program and felt a sense of pride in being able to help first and second year students decide that history was the subject for them. The department offers such a wide range of courses, and I still wish it had been possible to take them all. There is something in the history department for everyone, so if you have the chance to get involved in PATH or become a history major -- take it! You won't regret it.
Michael Romagnuolo (BAH '21)
Being a PATH advisor afforded me the opportunity to share the experiences and know-how that I gained during my time at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ with other History students that sought certain knowledge, tips, and tricks in order to make the most out of their degree. I would recommend all History students to consider joining PATH as it is an incredibly fulfilling position that helps the program flourish. My favourite part of my History degree was being able to hone in on specific historical topics such as the Italian Renaissance. Learning about subject matters that interested me through the combination of large lecture courses and smaller seminars greatly enhanced my reading, writing, and communication skills, a set of skills that will surely serve me well as I pursue a career in law after graduation.
Kathleen Ferns (BAH '21)
I loved every minute of my History major at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. It was great to be able to take discussion-based seminars on topics that really suited my interests, and to meet other like-minded students. In my third year, I joined the new PATH initiative because I wanted to help students see all the benefits of studying history and to really make the most of their degree. Now that I have graduated, I am taking a year to work and will then be applying for Master of Divinity programs at seminaries!
Josh Weisenberg-Vincent (BAH '20)
I was an undergraduate student at Queen’s University from 2016-2020. At the end of my first year, I decided to major in history and minor in sociology. Although I enjoyed lectures, I found that seminars allowed for more creativity with the assignments. My favourite part of my undergraduate degree was writing my HIST 515 undergraduate thesis in my fourth year, where I engaged with debates about slavery and capitalism. During my final year as an undergraduate student, I was an advisor for the inaugural Peer Advising Team in History (PATH) in 2019-2020. I wanted to engage with the history department more in my final year, so I thought that PATH would be a good step towards helping students understand the ins-and-outs of a history degree. Moreover, I thought the premise of the project was great, as I myself would have talked to PATH advisors had it existed when I was a first- or second-year student. Although I only advised a couple students, I was glad they reached out and was happy to help. Currently, I am completing a Master’s Degree in history here at Queen’s, and I hope to continue my studies in history after completing my MA thesis.
Emily Nagy (BAH '24)
Patricia Roussel (BAH '24)
Spencer Dearborn (BAH '24)
Rhianna Grove (BAH '24)
Brenden Currie (BAH '23)
Willem Rosenberg (BAH '23)
Bria Crosby (BAH '20)
Michael Ciomyk (BAH '20)
Emma Schwichtenberg (BAH '20)
Grace Armstrong (BAH '19)