Jonathan Anderson '19
Jonathan Anderson '19
Director of Education at Edge Studio
In what ways do you feel your master's degree in history has had a positive impact on your life and/or career?
Prior to joining Brooklyn College, I struggled to get a full-time job. I had a fair amount of experience, and I even started my own walking tour company, but I couldn't get a potential employer to take my application seriously. Once I had enrolled, I went full-time within months. I was working as the manager of education at the South Street Seaport Museum. Now that I have my master's, I have moved on to an even better position at Edge Studio. Brooklyn College has changed my life for the better in more ways than I can count. I am grateful every day for the education, the mentorship, and the community that welcomed me in the History Department. The quality of my life has improved in every way because of my time with Brooklyn College.
Which history course or courses were particularly meaningful to you during your time at Brooklyn College? Why?
This is a really tough question. So many classes that I took were meaningful, or opened my eyes to a culture or a piece of history that I was previously unaware. One of the walking tours that I give through my company The History Couple goes through Chinatown and tells the history of the Chinese gangs that become prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in New York City. Because of this, my time with Professor Meyer in his Modern China class was particularly useful to me. I was able to develop a better understanding of what was happening in that time period, and why the people I speak about on my tours immigrated to the United States. The result is a well-rounded tour where my visitors can really understand what people were going through. Plus, when people ask me questions about what was going on in China at that time, I look super-duper smart when I can give them detailed answers. Thanks, Professor Meyers!
Are there any other reflections on your time in the History Department that you'd like us to include in your spotlight?
I don't think I am able to express through words the gratitude that I feel for this program. Enrolling in Brooklyn College was the best decision I ever made. I have made lasting relationships with both students and faculty, and now that I have graduated, I often find myself missing classes and the intellectual stimulation of graduate-level discussions. Though I miss it, my wife and I recently moved to a new apartment that overlooks the Brooklyn College Library and the new performing arts center. At night that big, pulsating light on the entrance to the performing arts building covers our living room in blues, purples, and greens. While it may freak out our cats, it is a great reminder of the fact that if it were not for Brooklyn College, we could never afford our new place.
