Alex Delare '19
Alex Delare '19
Associate Director of Education at New York City Children’s Theater
In what ways do you feel your master’s degree in history has had a positive impact on your life and/or career?
Attending Brooklyn College and receiving a Masters in History sincerely changed my life. At the time of my admittance, I was working part-time as a Senior Educator and Costumed Interpreter at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and running my walking tour business with my husband, Jonathan Anderson (also a graduate of the History department at Brooklyn College) called The History Couple. I had been trying to find full-time work in the historical and educational field for approximately a year and had been unable to do so. Upon admittance to the History department, I received my first full-time position at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as an Education Specialist. I attended Brooklyn College part-time and took classes in the evening in order to continue working in my chosen field. I took two classes a semester and was able to complete my degree in 2.5 years. During my final year at Brooklyn College as I was in the midst of writing my thesis, I became an Education Associate at New York City Children’s Theater. Shortly after receiving my diploma in May, I became the Associate Director of Education at this same organization. My Master’s degree paved the way for this step in my career.
Which history course or courses were particularly meaningful to you during your time in the Brooklyn College History Department? Why?
My two thesis advisors were also my two favorite professors in the History department, Gunja SenGupta and Brigid O’Keeffe. I took Professor SenGupta’s course on Slavery and Freedom and Dr. O’Keeffe’s Introduction to the Study of History. Both of these courses were inspiring because of the brilliant professors who taught them! Their incredible facilitation, gifted storytelling, as well as the fascinating readings they shared with us, brought these classes and history to life.
Are there any other reflections on your time in the BC History Department that you’d like us to include in your spotlight?
Not only was my career changed by attending Brooklyn College, but also my bravery to participate in classroom settings improved. As one of the only women in the majority of my classes, I found that it was even more imperative to have my ideas shared aloud although this also took more courage. My course work challenged me to learn and be exposed to new historical ideas and participate in classroom dialogues with students who were eager to learn. I also became a far better writer and articulator of my ideas. Finally, Brooklyn College’s History program made me a better participant in the world by making me a more avid reader and searcher of knowledge, and forever lover of the human spirit.
