Rebecca Susmarski: Alumni Spotlight

My name is Rebecca and I graduated from Loyola with Bachelor’s degrees in History and Journalism in 2012.

The investigative and research skills I gained as a Loyola history major impacted both my early career in journalism and my professional transition to the museum field. Loyola’s History Department taught me to never be afraid to ask questions, to research beyond traditional sources of information, and to learn as much about a topic as possible in order to write about the topic with authority. I applied these skills every day when I worked as a government reporter for a daily newspaper, and my resulting ability to interview sources and place subjects in context helped me write thorough articles that covered a variety of complex topics.

Today, I work remotely as a grant writer for Shelburne Museum, a history, art, and design museum located in Shelburne, Vermont. I still use the research and investigative skills I honed at Loyola to write grant applications, and my new job combines my lifelong passions for writing and history. In my free time, I volunteer at the Chicago History Museum and help with front-facing activities during the Museum's public events. Loyola’s History Department nurtured my professional and personal development in countless ways and endowed me with a flexible skill set that any employer would value. Thank you, Loyola!