For 100 years, the Department of History has been more than classrooms and textbooks; it has been a living archive of stories, debates and discoveries. As the department celebrates its centennial, it pays tribute to a legacy fueled by curiosity, mentorship and the transformative power of understanding our past to inform the future.

Since its founding, the department has grown from a small group of committed faculty to a vibrant community of scholars and students exploring the diverse fabric of human history. Faculty are renowned nationally and internationally for their research and teaching, linking students to the latest in historical scholarship and bringing various human experiences and cultures to life. Their efforts also develop students’ critical thinking, research and communication skills that benefit them well beyond the classroom.

Throughout its century-long history, the department has achieved milestones in education and scholarship, from introducing innovative curricula, launching experiential learning opportunities and fostering collaborative research projects. Alumni from every decade have translated their education into diverse and impactful careers in law, public service,  media, education, and more, demonstrating the versatility and value of a history degree in a rapidly changing world.

The department celebrated a century of scholarship with a series of events, including two panels on Nov. 18. One focused on career pathways in history, while the other highlighted new research by university historians. There were also tours of the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies and the Roman Archaeology Lab, where visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at ongoing archaeological work.

On Nov. 20, a centennial dinner took place in the Coastal Ballroom of Talley Student Center. The evening featured welcoming remarks, a retelling of the department’s origin story, an alumni reflections panel, and recognition of the donors, faculty, staff and graduates whose support and dedication have shaped the department’s growth over the years.

Continuing the celebration, the department is sharing stories of four alumni along with a historical timeline highlighting major achievements over the past 100 years. Doing so provides a vivid glimpse into how the study of history has evolved at NC State and the impact the department continues to make on students, the community and beyond. Meet the four alumni:

John Hester ‘72

John, now retired, worked as an attorney for 50 years, representing attorneys in civil legal malpractice cases.

Why major in history? History is not what’s in a book; it’s a living thing. It’s a mosaic, a puzzle and each little thing was a piece of the puzzle. To see how they (the pieces) fit together was nice and interesting, or perhaps, how they didn’t fit together, which was even more interesting. What I liked most was the professors. They made me feel welcome and made history come alive, and about real people and how they handled difficult situations. (While at NC State, John was also a leader in the nationwide effort to lower the voting age to 18.)

How did your history degree help shape your career path? NC State taught me how to speak and write, how to argue a point, and how to compose a persuasive paper.  If you can’t write or speak, you can’t do a whole lot. I used those skills countless times as a lawyer. As proof, he pointed to his 90% success rate.

Advice to your freshman self or other students? Continue to work hard to become familiar with writing and communication so you can figure out how best to present whatever you’re doing, no matter what it is. I would also give the same advice I gave to each of my four sons: Find something you enjoy doing and figure out how to make a living out of it, so that you enjoy doing it for a lifetime. I did that.

Daniel Gunter ‘00

Daniel is the principal of Gunter Development and Smart Rite Reviews, his real estate development and consulting companies. Previously, he worked as an attorney.

Why major in history? I had two excellent AP history professors in high school, one for European history, the other for American history. Their classes sparked my interest, and I still have the European history textbook!  My dad was also a history major, and he became a successful lawyer, which is what I thought I wanted to do and did for a while. I loved the small class sizes, which allowed me to connect with my professors, several of whom became friends. The talented faculty included three Fulbright Scholars. There were also unique opportunities – writing pieces for a professor’s book, participating in the history honors program, and attending book discussions at professors’ homes.

How did your history degree help shape your career path? History has trained how I think, which has been huge in my legal career and my work in commercial real estate development. It helped me learn how to gather information, assess it, and figure out what to do with it, based on the problem or situation. The soft skills were also key: research, writing, basic, clear communication, and public speaking. I’ve used all of these skills as a lawyer and now as a real estate developer.

Advice to your freshman self or other students? First, you think you know what you want to do after college. Great,  now go figure out something else you might want to do because you really don’t have a clue about anything right now. Second, network. Get to know people — your professors, your parents’ friends and your friends’ parents. Think about people in your hometown who are interested in or may need you later in their businesses. Talk to them, build relationships. It is all about people and connections, and that does not mean text messaging or sending LinkedIn messages. It has to be in person or at least by phone. It still matters!

Cara Smelter ‘12 BA ‘14 MA

Cara is chief of staff at the National Humanities Center. Previously, she spent 13 years working in various roles and departments at NC State, including as a graduate teaching assistant in the history department.

Why major in history? Dr. Blair LM Kelley inspired me to major in history. That chance assignment to her as my advisor set me on the course for my personal and professional life. I was fundamentally changed as a person through my historical study and research. History awakened me to the power of storytelling – sharing in lived experiences – garners community, connectivity and resilience. Working in the department, I witnessed that awakening in my students through their engagement with American history. What I loved most about studying history was the community I cultivated within the department, which provided life-defining relationships that continue to this day.

How did your history degree help shape your career path?
My degrees have provided me with a skillset that includes expertise in research, analysis and synthesis of complex information to reach broad audiences. These skills have been translatable into any circumstance I have faced, and field I have pursued. My degrees — the knowledge and tools I have gained in my training as a historian — have been vital to my work across the fields of humanities, visual arts, mental health, and community care and advocacy. My training enables me to orient myself to and within the world — within my local and global communities — and to be a more well-rounded, compassionate, and empathetic colleague and community member. The breadth across my professional career is a testament to the flexibility and applicability of this degree across disciplines and professions.

Advice to your freshman self or other students? I would tell my freshman self that my future career path will be considered by many as non-linear and that I have found my greatest fulfillment in life in the variety of personal, volunteer, and professional experiences I have had. I would emphasize the necessity to divorce my idea of career from employment and expand the concept of “a career.” A career does not have to be a job that pays your bills; a career can be the labor and resources you offer to yourself and your community that create meaning in your life and the lives of others. My career spans community care, academia, mental health, art, and human and animal rights advocacy. All of these have been enhanced because I studied history.

Benjamin  (Ben) Juarez ‘21

Ben is a litigation paralegal support specialist for the Virginia offices of McAngus Goudelock & Courie, an insurance law firm with offices in 12 states, including North Carolina.

Why major in history? NC State has always been a dream school of mine since I was a kid. I knew I wanted to go there, but I wasn’t quite sure of what path I would take. During high school, I fell in love with the research and writing of history and different time periods. NC State has one of the best history programs in North Carolina, and it felt like the perfect match. My time at CHASS was very short and limited due to COVID and transferring in from an early college. I grew accustomed to Hillsborough Street since all my classes were in buildings off it, and I came to view it as a second home. My dream of being part of the pack finally came to fruition, and I loved every second being there.

How did your history degree help shape your career path? First and foremost, I love researching and writing history papers. I feel like it’s important to remember the past and make sure it is represented properly. Secondly, my career path is in legal work. When I was in high school, I did some research and found that history majors rank in the top five of all majors in law school, since the workloads are similar. While I have yet to go to law school, I feel as though the preparation will still benefit me when I do decide to go.

Advice to your freshman self or other students? The biggest career advice I could give my freshman self is to stay ambitious about what you want to do. I took a different job after graduation that didn’t fit my interests and didn’t help my career path. While it wasn’t the biggest setback, it still made it more difficult to break through the job search market, as everything is tough to come by these days. So, stay the course and everything will work out.

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