Next stop, Edinburgh: student goes abroad for graduate school
May 21, 2024
Arthur Rodgers knew when he transferred to Virginia Tech in 2022 that being a Hokie would help set him up for success. Two years later, he has graduated with dual degrees and plans to start graduate school this fall at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Rodgers is excited about this next chapter of his life and the opportunities that studying abroad brings. While he has moved around a lot throughout his life, Rodgers said, "this seemed like another adventure worth taking." We talked with Arthur to learn more about his time at Virginia Tech and what he plans to study at Edinburgh -- read on for the full Q&A!
Tell me a little about yourself!
I’m sort of from all over. I was born overseas in Russia and was adopted when I was very young. I spent my childhood in Virginia before moving to New York City with my mother when I was thirteen. I moved back to Virginia and lived in Richmond for two years while I did community college there and transferred to Virginia Tech in 2022. I chose VT because I knew that with the great reputation of the university, its resources, and its vast alumni network I would be set up for success.
You double majored in history and multimedia journalism. In what ways do these two majors complement each other and what do you hope to do with your degrees?
Both programs complement each other so well. History benefits journalism in that it contextualizes present-day events. The history program is particularly good at teaching good research practices. Good research is the keystone of both history and journalism -– an ability to tell a story that is also informative, and both programs train you for that incredibly well.
Journalism has allowed me to get out into the Blacksburg community and hone my interviewing skills. I have an interest in oral history, so this helps with learning how to properly interview someone. Once I finish my master’s, I hope to potentially move on to a Ph.D. or maybe a civil service job for the federal government. If I could wave my magic wand, I would love to work for the Smithsonian or the Library of Congress.
You were accepted into the University of Edinburgh for a master's program this fall –- congratulations! What was the application process like?
When I began searching for programs, I looked for universities that could accommodate my research interest. I want to specialize in queer history, and there are not many universities that accommodate it. There are some amazing faculty who work in queer history throughout the country, but nothing clicked with me. So, I decided to broaden my horizons and look abroad, and I stumbled upon the University of Edinburgh and loved its wide array of graduate programs.
The university also has a center for gender and sexuality studies within their school, which is interdisciplinary. I loved this because it would be great to collaborate with other specialties like sociology and archaeology on my research. Their faculty also have a wide array of specialties, and I was super fascinated by Dr. Kate Davison’s research on queer archives. Everything seemed to point to Edinburgh for me.
What will you be studying at the University of Edinburgh?
I’ll be studying contemporary history, a program focused mainly on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I have always been more fascinated with recent histories than ancient ones. My journalism experience also complements this program since journalism is very much in the now. My research focus is queer history, which I am excited to explore more of because I often feel there isn’t enough of it in undergraduate programs.
What excited you about completing your master's degree abroad?
So many things. It’s a great opportunity to get a more global perspective on history and learn how the education system works there. Additionally, Edinburgh had more specialized programs, and as someone who wants to study queer history, it seemed a good reason to head across the ocean. I just think it’s a great way to broaden my horizons culturally and academically.
In what ways do you think your history degree has prepared you for your program at Edinburgh?
The history department has been just incredible. I have felt challenged in exploring topics I never would have otherwise. The department has made me a significantly better researcher. They offer plenty of opportunities to excel, from working on research projects to the undergraduate historical journal. I am leaving Virginia Tech confident in my abilities as a historian going forward.
Which faculty members have impacted you the most during your time here?
Two faculty members stand out to me: Dr. Jessica Taylor and Dr. Edward Polanco. Dr. Polanco’s historical methods course really opened my eyes to what history could be and interacting with the communities we were researching (Monacan Nation Indigenous Peoples) made everything more salient.
With Dr. Taylor, I was able to work on a mapping project that tracked the paths of runaway indentured servants and enslaved peoples in seventeenth-century Virginia. This project exposed me to history in the wild and taught me the value of inter-university collaboration and how teamwork functions in history. Shoutout to Dr. Taylor for writing my letter of recommendation for Edinburgh!
You just graduated from Virginia Tech earlier this month. Tell me what it feels like for your time here to have come to a close.
It’s bittersweet. Virginia Tech has been such a fantastic experience for me – I’m not soon to forget it. I think that I’m ready to move onto the next thing, but I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now if it weren’t for Virginia Tech. For that, I’m forever grateful.