History Major | Alumni

Katie Roberts ('12)

Roberts graduated from PHC in 2012 with a major in history. She earned her M.A. in History from the College of William & Mary.

Dr. Robert Spinney and associate professor of history Dr. Doug Favelo enjoyed her 100-page senior thesis (about an African-American minister in the 1840s) so much that they use the thesis as an example of an ideal thesis for other history majors. Roberts also helped Spinney redesign several of his courses. “She may have been the best history student I have had,” Spinney said.

In 2018, Roberts taught United States History II at Patrick Henry College during the spring semester of 2018 while Dr. Spinney took a sabbatical. She later returned to PHC in 2020 to teach History of Slavery. Roberts currently serves as an Executive Pastor at Charlottesville Vineyard Church. 

Shane Keenan ('19)

Keenan, who graduated from PHC in 2019,  shared how the skills he learned from his history degree have enabled him to excel at his job. "The lessons I learned planning and executing work on my thesis prepared me well for the workplace...History majors learn to ask how and why something happened, and to answer those problems with their own research and arguments."

Now working as an archivist at the Lebanon County Historical Society, Keenan said his history degree has improved his ability to witness to others. "History classes, especially Historiography and US Intellectual History, allowed me to better understand how people think and how to speak to someone working under a different paradigm," he said." My time at PHC deepened my Biblical worldview and equipped me to share it with others more effectively."  In 2024, he completed his MA in History at Liberty University.

Elizabeth Borders ('22)

Borders, who graduated in 2022, said that both the core and major history classes showed her how much she didn't know, awakened her curiosity and wonder about history, and gave her the skills to learn more. 

"Studying history at PHC helped me understand why our history is so important--it's not just for the sake of avoiding already made mistakes, but for pursuing virtue," Borders said. "Most importantly, I now love history not only for how it teaches me how to live well, but also how it teaches me about the character of God." 

Elizabeth now works as an educator and historical interpreter at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, the topic of her senior thesis.