As a third-generation Bulldog, Kathryn Veale has taken advantage of the many opportunities both campus and community offer. After she becomes a Double Dawg, she plans to pursue her passion of preserving history.
Hometown:
Watkinsville, GA
High School:
Oconee County High School
Degree objective:
Master of Arts in history with a Historic Preservation certificate
Other degrees:
B.A. in history with a Medieval Studies certificate, 2015
Expected graduation:
December 2017
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
As a “Double Dawg,” I experienced the benefits from the University of Georgia’s amazing undergraduate and graduate programs. As an undergraduate, I was granted the Presidential Leadership Scholarship by UGA. This generous scholarship encouraged me to be as active on UGA’s campus as much as I was in high school. As a history major, I became involved with a wonderful community. I joined and held the office of historian for Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society, during my junior year. That same year the history department presented me with the Joe Brown Connally Award. As a senior, I was honored to serve as president to Phi Alpha Theta. The friendships and academic relationships I gained through my years as a history major and member of Phi Alpha Theta have continued into my graduate career.
As both a teaching assistant and graduate liaison to Phi Alpha Theta, I have enjoyed educating and working alongside undergraduates as they begin their own careers in history. In the graduate community, I currently serve as the Student Speaker Series chair. This position involves my outreach, organization and facilitation of peer-to-peer presentations of conference papers, thesis and dissertation chapters, publication materials, and mock job talks within the history department. These workshops offer my peers a chance to read, edit and comment on peer work and offer the participants valuable feedback in a safe and low-stakes environment. Through these positions, I have not only been able to collaborate and help support other students, but I, myself, have gained invaluable knowledge working with the next generation of history scholars.
Also as a graduate student, I have had the opportunity and honor to work alongside the staff of Hargrett Library at UGA as the Lucy Hargrett Draper Student Scholar. I gained an invaluable experience by researching and communicating important historical themes through the artifacts and manuscripts in Hargrett’s exhibits. Working alongside the Hargrett staff, I helped educate more than 1,000 visitors by creating a multi-room exhibition on the Equal Rights Amendment. The mentorship I have received as the Lucy Hargrett Draper Student Scholar has been one of the highlights of my educational career.
My educational experience will continue to expand through a Travel Award Scholarship granted by the history department. This month, I will spend two weeks in England conducting research for my thesis. As both an undergraduate and graduate student of UGA, the knowledge I have gained is invaluable. My educational and personal experience as a student of UGA has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life.
Current Employment:
Currently I am a teaching assistant for the UGA history department and Lucy Hargrett Draper Student Scholar.
Family Ties to UGA:
I am a proud third-generation Bulldog on both sides of my family. No doubt one of my fondest memories is sharing my new UGA alumna status with my mother and grandmother shortly before my grandmother’s passing away in the summer of 2015. I was honored, as Larry Munson so adequately said, “to continue that tradition. Understanding that there is no tradition more worthy of envy. No institution worthy of such loyalty as the University of Georgia.”
I chose to attend UGA because…
Aside from UGA being a family tradition, I consider myself a local and lifelong Athenian. I was raised 15 minutes outside of Athens in Watkinsville, where my parents and extended family nourished my love of all things red and black. Though I did visit other colleges before my senior of high school, all other campuses and towns failed to compare to UGA and Athens. As many other alumni will attest to, this campus and the city have a special aura that no other place can replicate. Whether you are a die-hard sports fan or into the latest music scene, anyone can find their own version of home here.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
Without a doubt, any day I have gets instantly better if I get a chance to enjoy a stroll through UGA’s North Campus. It’s hard for exams and papers to weigh heavily on your mind when you see students enjoying their time hanging out in hammocks attached to ancient looking trees or throwing a ball to their dog on the green lawns. And of course, I would be remiss not to mention fall Saturdays in Athens where the Dawg Nation instantly expands to 90,000 cheering fans in Sanford Stadium.
When I have free time, I like…
When not in class or writing papers, I love to explore Athens. Despite being a “local,” Athens always seems to have something new and exciting going on. On Saturday mornings, I can be found strolling through the local farmers market or having brunch with friends at one of many delicious breakfast locations in Athens (a special shout out to Ike and Jane’s and Independent Baking Company!).
When not walking around Five Points or Normaltown, I love going on adventures with my two golden retrievers, Ellie and Oakley. Ellie and Oakley love discovering the trails around Lake Herrick. Despite visiting numerous times, we still manage to find new trails.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
I will be traveling abroad for the first time alone to do research in London and Oxford, England!
My favorite place to study is…
I like to change up my study spots for each new exam or paper. However, no matter what study atmosphere you are looking for, Five Points in Athens has a place for everyone. Two Story Coffee is perfect for someone looking for a quiet but communal space. For a collaborative outdoor space, look no farther than Jittery Joe’s patio. Finally, for a lively space with a cozy feel, the Royal Peasant provides a pub-like atmosphere that makes you feel at home for long study sessions.
My favorite professor is…
The exceptional faculty at UGA provides an excellent learning environment. On a daily basis I am challenged intellectually. In each of the medieval history classes I have taken with Dr. Jamie Kreiner, I leave with a better understanding of how historians re-examine and challenge contemporary discourse. My critical thinking skills continued to develop while taking English classes with Dr. Cynthia Camp. In Dr. Camp’s classes, I studied how medieval literature reveals the complexities in society not just the Middle Ages, but also how the literature relates to present-day society. I left every class having grown in my skills as an analytical scholar. One of the toughest aspects of being a historian is writing. The guidance and mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Palmer has been invaluable in helping me hone my skills as a writer. She goes above and beyond in encouraging and supporting my research interests. Dr. Benjamin Ehlers also provides invaluable insights and guidance for my academic interests, which no doubt greatly improved my scholarship. My knowledge and skills as a historian have grown exponentially during my both undergraduate and graduate careers under the guidance of a dedicated faculty.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
… my historical hero, Eleanor Roosevelt. As the wife of FDR, she is the most iconic first lady of all time. Eleanor dedicated her life advocating for civil rights in the U.S. and later, human rights around the world.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
… love to write historical fiction.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
… start a nonprofit foundation to help aid in the preservation of rural historic sites, structures and artifacts. In addition to historic preservation, I would also provide educational opportunities to the public to learn more about local history. I have found that history becomes more engaging and potent when people realize the personal implications of the past.
What is your passion and how are you committed to pursuing it?
In an age with vast urban sprawl, too often we do not realize the importance of something until it’s gone. I firmly believe the preservation of not just historical locations but also the tangible artifacts of history is invaluable for posterity. The challenge of preserving materials and sites of historical value, while also balancing modernity’s needs, is one I am more than ready to meet head on. Through pursuing a Master of Arts in history with a Historic Preservation certificate, I am dedicated to public history. After graduation, I will be excited to continue to pursue my passions into a career.
After graduation, I plan to…
After graduation, I will be excited to continue to pursue my passions of preserving history into a career.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
My favorite memory of college was when my roommates and I took a day trip to Charleston from Athens. During my roommate’s senior year, she got an interview with an organization in Charleston. We were due to move out in a month, so we took this opportunity for one last road trip all together. All four of us piled into a car early in the morning and headed for Charleston. After my roommate’s interview, we walked down Rainbow Row, and took pictures of the Pineapple Fountain. Then, we found the closest beach, dipped our toes in the ocean before heading back to Athens that night. Though our time as roommates came to an end, the friendship we formed at UGA will last well beyond our time in Athens.
