Meet Baylor History’s New Student Ambassador Mikel Minne

Mikel Minne, History Major and Baylor senior, is leading the charge as our student ambassador this year, providing support to faculty and undergraduate History majors. From strategizing student engagement initiatives with Undergraduate Program Director Dr. Daniel Barish to offering helpful tips to undergraduates on Baylor History’s Instagram account, Minne has already become an invaluable asset to the department.

Below, Minne reflects on what motivated her to take the position of Student Ambassador, her favorite class in Baylor History, and her plans for life post-graduation. 

How did you come to be this year’s student ambassador for the History Department?

“I knew about the student ambassador position for the History Department because of my friend Krystal Tan who was in the position last semester. Krystal talked very highly of the job and the environment of the History Department, so I quickly became interested in the job. At the time, Dr. Watkins was the undergraduate program director, and so I reached out to him to formally apply for the position. Shortly after I applied for the position, I got an email from Dr. Watkins offering me the job and introducing me to Dr. Barish who is now the undergraduate program director.”

What do you do as a student ambassador and how does this position impact the Department of History?

“As the Student Ambassador, my main focus is on recruiting prospective students to be history majors and working to make sure current history majors are enjoying the program. A special project that I am working on this semester is showing current history majors what it looks like to do research as a professional historian. I will be showcasing professors from the Baylor History Department and the current research they are pursuing throughout the semester. My position mainly impacts the future and current students in the History Department. I am a friendly face and a resource to everyone. Beyond that, I can serve as a connection point between students and faculty in the department.”

What are your hopes and goals post-graduation?

“Post-graduation I will be pursuing a master’s in museum studies at Baylor University. I am on an accelerated M.A. track, so I have already started my graduate courses this semester. After receiving my M.A. in Museum Studies, my plan is to work in a museum doing research and provenance work or pursue exhibit design. My hope is to move somewhere on the East Coast post-graduation.”

What has been your favorite history class at Baylor?

“My favorite history class at Baylor has been Napoleonic Europe with Dr. Watkins. The main focus of this class was on Napoleon's reign over Europe and looking at each unique part of the empire. I loved this class because of the freedom I had to research topics I was interested in surrounding Napoleon's Empire. I ended up writing my research paper on Scottish participation and public support in the Napoleonic Wars.”

What upcoming projects are you excited to be working on as the Student Ambassador?

“In addition to student outreach and retention, I am excited to showcase the research process for professional historians. My hope behind this is to give current history majors a glimpse of what it looks like to pursue a professional career as a historian and the limitless possibilities a history degree provides.”