Michael Weiner, B.A. 1991

1991 Major: History

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

"I had the great pleasure of studying with, and having as my major advisor, the late Dr. Anne Scott (for whom Scott House) is named. Personally, as someone who always loved history, my major was an opportunity to study and enjoy a wider range of material during my treasured college years. The efforts I made in improving my research and writing are efforts that I value, as I believe they improved my overall writing. I have to note, though, that it took me a long time to unlearn that style of writing in the business world, as most people don't have strong vocabularies nor the patience to wade through complex sentences."

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

"A History major from Duke can lead you anywhere. The most obvious career tracks are law and academia, but with the ability to research, write, and--most of all--absorb and distill large amounts of information, there are a huge number of options. That presents difficulties in choosing a career path, but at least there are many possibilities. A piece of advice that I received from Dr. Scott and have repeated to dozens of students I've met is to take professors, not classes. You'll learn more from a professor you like than one you don't, no matter the material."