Elaine (Sanders) Goodman, B.A. 1991

1991 Major: History

How has being a History graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"History is a broad major. It's often thought that what you will do with that major it teach. However, you can choose to go deep in a specific area (like a time period, geography, culture, or function). I chose to focus my studies on modern Japanese history because I had an interest in business in the Asia/Pacific region. Ultimately, I have had a different career than that but the opportunity to study that, including abroad, has proved to be a great experience to talk about and to learn how to work with different cultures."

What advice would you give students in Duke's History programs? 

"Don't worry if you aren't sure how to apply the specific learnings professionally. Choose topics (or a category of topics) that you want to learn about. Ultimately, your passion and interest will prove to any employer that you know how to learn, adapt, and solve challenges."