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

Karam Alafandi
Karam Alafandi '24
History, Pre-med

Karam Alafandi is studying history on his way to becoming a doctor.

I’m looking forward to having lifetime relationships with my patients.
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Sarah Elizabeth McDermott center flanked by the other members of Protohype
Sarah Elizabeth McDermott '22
History

Sarah Elizabeth McDermott is grateful for scholarships that are helping her to graduate debt-free, because in the future she won’t have to say “No” to any opportunities.

UMass Lowell is an affordable school, and it’s a great education.
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Bradley Sherwood helps a child weave on a loom at summer camp at the Tsongas Industrial History Center
Bradley Sherwood '20
History

Bradley Sherwood explains history to school children and adults at the Tsongas Industrial History Center, an educational partnership between the university and Lowell National Historical Park.

The city appealed to me. There’s a lot to do here.
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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.
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Rory Luddy poses in front of a trolley
Rory Luddy '22
History

Internships on and off campus gave Rory Luddy museum experience.

The dream is to have a job as a museum curator.
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