Hello fellow historians! My name is Rebecca Kaliff. I am from Enfield, Connecticut and I am a first-year Public History graduate student. I received my BA in History with a minor in Philosophy from American University in 2019. During my undergraduate career, I was a member of AU’s Swimming & Diving team. I also studied abroad in London where I took a full course load of British history classes and interned at a large criminal law firm. My undergraduate thesis on the poppy—the international symbol of remembrance of the First World War—was inspired by my time in London during the Centennial of Armistice Day.
I currently work as a Teaching Assistant at an elementary school. I also coach a competitive swim team—athletics have always been a big part of my life and I try to stay connected to the sport that shaped so much of who I am. Outside of the classroom, I love traveling, hiking, and spending time with my family. I also just got a puppy—Benji! I have never had a pet before, so it has been so much fun!
My historical interests include public memory and commemoration, U.S. Foreign Relations, and social movements. I am passionate about history and education and hope to pursue a career in museum education, exhibit design, or government.
I am looking forward to Digital History Methods because I am not very knowledgeable of or experienced with the plethora of digital tools that are changing the way we do and experience history—I struggled to get into class last week on Zoom so that pretty much sums up my digital skills. I am excited to get to know everyone throughout the semester and am excited to expand my skill set and learn how to engage and communicate with more people. Please feel free to reach out!
