Her history major has been the foundation for Claire Plagge ’09’s SLU experience. Plagge, a graduate of Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, NJ, said she became “hooked” on history after taking Early Russian History her sophomore year. She said she chose history “because I have always had an interest in the peoples and cultures of the past and how they have influenced us today. This major allows me to explore all of my interests, from the animals of ancient Greece to the gulags of the Soviet Union to the politics of the Space Race.”

Plagge applied her historical knowledge by studying on SLU’s program in Vienna. She said she was able to learn the intricate process of creating an empire and the way nations can work together. “I saw firsthand the cathedrals and palaces that have existed for hundreds of years,” she said.  “Talk about hands-on learning!  It was amazing for me to stand inside a church that was built in 1100 or to see Maria Theresa’s actual royal carriage!”

On campus, Plagge is a member of the History Society and the Academic Honor Council, the public relations chair of Omicron Delta Kappa, a First-Year Program/Seminar mentor, and a WORD Studio tutor. While these commitments keep her busy, Plagge says “Not only can I do what I love, but my experiences with these organizations have forced me to become a more organized and well-rounded student and person.”

Plagge, whose dream job is to become a research librarian at a university like SLU, intends to work before going to graduate school for a dual master’s degree in library science and either history or information technology.

She credits her experiences at SLU for making her “into who I want to remain for the rest of my life.  The students, faculty, and staff have forced me to open my eyes to the needs and concerns of the world and the idea that we all must do our part.  This University has pushed me to become a more diligent, more excited, and more purposeful scholar.”