Duquesne University Department of History

05/12/2026

Al Preston ('25) and Jessie Ames ('26) working a pop-up exhibit for the Wendi Miller Legacy Project Open House. It was held in Miller's frame shop in East Liberty on May 6th.

05/08/2026

Graduation Day 2026. Congrats to our Graduate cohort that walked across the stage today. It has been an honor working with you. ✨

05/06/2026

On Saturday we held a reception for the alumni for our Graduate Program. Alumni from both the MA in History and MA in Public History were able to connect with each other, faculty past and present.

Our MA in History program has been apart of Duquesne since 1911 and our Public History program started in 1979, resulting in over 700 alumni!

Thank you all who came!

05/01/2026

Congratulations to Reiley Freed for winning the Women and Gender Studies Award at the Graduate Research Symposium! Reiley presented her poster Black Galleries: the Legacies of the Black Home and is a graduate student in the Public History Program.

Way to go Reiley!

04/30/2026

What a day! Yesterday, our graduate and undergraduate students had the opportunity to present their work to the department and be recognized for their scholarship during the annual History Department Awards Ceremony.

The History Department is always proud of our students' accomplishments, whether it's studying abroad, publishing papers, or simply going above and beyond.

Congratulations to our students for their hard work and recognition. You deserve it!

04/29/2026

Student Spotlight ✨

Meet Glenna VanDyke our winner of our Graduate Excellence Award in Public History!

Glenna will be graduating with her MA in Public History this may.

Why did you pick Duquesne?

I was excited to stay in my hometown, but even more so, I wanted to be at a school like Duquesne that had strong partnerships with local institutions through courses and internships. Looking back, I am very happy with my decision.

What are your plans after graduation?

I recently accepted an assistant archivist position at Duquesne and I am building on my fall internship experience with Rivers of Steel to become a tour facilitator at the Carrie Furnaces!

04/27/2026

Student Spotlight✨
Meet Matt Wollett our winner of the Excellence in Graduate History Award!

Matt is graduating in May with his Masters in History.

Why Duquesne?
I chose to come to Duquesne University because of the reputation it has for academic excellence and as an environment that fosters creativity while providing diverse opportunities for research goals, professional development, and expansive networking with faculty and peers. During my application process I was fortunate enough to have encouraging discussions with both faculty and students. These interactions provided me with a strong understanding of the high quality of commitment Duquesne has in investing in its students' success, which I am delighted to say has been at the core of my experience since entering the university.

What are your plans after Graduation?

After graduating I plan on pursuing employment opportunities. I am particularly interested in museum, historical sites or organizations, and educational institutions with a teaching or research component. I am also considering furthering my education by concentrating on an archival studies program.

04/24/2026

Student Spotlight ✨

Meet Agaretha "Aggie" Kosasih, the recipient of our Joseph R. Morice Award for Excellence in History.

Aggie is graduating in May with her undergraduate dergee in English, History, minor in Womens and Gender Studies and a certificate in Public History.

Why did you pick Duquesne?

I picked Duquesne because it offers the opportunity to study the specific intersection of subjects that I want to explore, and provides me with an academic environment that supports me in pursuing them simultaneously. Having spent my high school years in Pittsburgh, it is also the place where I specifically found the public history field to be accessible for me to pursue nearby.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be attending the dual Master of Archival Studies and the Master of Library and Information Studies (MAS/LIS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

04/20/2026

Student Spotlight ✨

Meet our recent "Aleta Zak Endowed Public History Internship Award" winner, Jesse Ames.

Jesse is graduating with her Masters in Pubilc History in May!

Why did you pick Duquesne?

I chose Duquesne because I felt the public history program was a perfect fit. I wanted to combine my love of history with community action and Duquesne's program provided opportunities to engage with Pittsburgh's community and history. Duquesne also stood out due to its class size. I've really gotten the chance to bond with my cohort and professors.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on staying in Pittsburgh for as long as I can! Currently, I am working with The Holiday Pride: A Community LGBTQ Museum as their marketing and a research assistant to create an exhibit for May and a full guided walking tour for June.

04/20/2026

The history department is always proud to show off the amazing work done by our faculty and staff!

Congratulations to Dr. Jotham Parsons for the publication of his edited and translated volume, France and the Destruction of the Jesuits, 1759-1765 (Brill)

03/23/2026

This Thursday! If you cant make it in person, the event will be livestreamed at dollar.bank/speakerseries

“From Gilded Grandeur to the Glass Tower: Pittsburgh’s Downtown Architecture”

Join Dollar Bank and the Duquesne University Department of History on March 26, 2026, for a deep dive into the skyline of the Steel City. This special event features expert presentations on the historic Dollar Bank Fourth Avenue Building, the architectural evolution of Pittsburgh’s "Wall Street" and the broader architectural history of downtown.

When: March 26, 2026 | Doors: 5:30 PM | Event: 6:00 PM

Where: Dollar Bank Fourth Avenue Building, 340 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Free admission and complimentary hors d'oeuvres provided.

Additional support provided by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.