Originally from South Carolina, Elaine Deer is a History major with minors in Creative Writing and Art History. As Chief of Staff in the Student Government, Elaine manages the Department Representatives, drawing on her previous experience as a History and Humanities Representative. She is also the founder of the History and Humanities Society.
What inspired you to choose JCU to study history?
I came to JCU because I really wanted to move abroad and expand my horizons. Where I'm from, many people tend to go to state schools close to their hometown. I didn't want to do that. When I visited JCU for a campus tour, everyone was welcoming, and I really liked the atmosphere.
It felt like a natural choice to move to Rome, given the history that surrounds you everywhere. There weren’t many big-name museums in my area growing up, but my dad likes history, and he would take me to historic sites, battlefields, and small local museums. Those were my first experiences with history. I always really enjoyed those trips, and they inspired me to pursue history as an education and a career.
Why did you decide to combine Creative Writing and Art History with your major?
I chose a Creative Writing minor because I enjoy writing. I've also found that it has helped me develop my academic writing skills. Art history felt like a natural progression for me. I'm particularly interested in material culture and the physical objects that result from it. I focus on fashion and textiles as a form of communication and expression of artistic, social, and economic ideas.
In the future, I want to pursue a lot of different things. I would like to work in museums, or emergency relief for cultural heritage, and consultancy for historical accuracy in film, television, and media.
Why do you think people should study history in the age of AI?
History and humanities are often undervalued at universities, but I believe they are very important. Humanities are very intrinsic to our society and essential to what makes us human. This academic discipline seeps into so many aspects of our lives in ways that people do not necessarily recognize or expect. Some may think that what we study is niche or frivolous, but it can be incredibly meaningful and important.
The humanities education is connected to a love of humanity, the things that people have created and the things they've done, and I believe that it is worth studying for that love alone.
Why did you decide to found the History and Humanities Society?
After my first year at JCU, I realized there wasn't a dedicated space for History and Humanities students to connect outside class, and the department didn’t feel cohesive. I wanted to create a space where students could meet, interact, and share their interests.
I served as the society’s president for the past two years, during which we organized a variety of study sessions, workshops, and trips. The site visits have been my favorite. We've traveled around Rome, we visited the Capitoline Museums, the Tabacchi Museum, and Castel Gandolfo. I think the Society has helped foster a stronger sense of community within our department.
Tell us about your new position as Chief of Staff in Student Government.
I manage the department representatives. I help them with various tasks, like drafting the surveys and the emails that they send out to students, and I try to keep them organized. I want to make department representatives more active and open them up to a broader role within the university. My goal is to improve the collaboration between them, their departments, and the Student Government.
I'm excited to see how the different changes and initiatives each representative is pursuing will benefit the university!
