A woman posing in a mask

Meet Aubrey Kerbs!

A woman in a blue shirt with white stripes smiling at the camera.
Student posing outside Watkins hall
a woman smiling at the camera next to a sunflower.

Where are you from?

I am from Spokane, Washington



What brought you to KU?!

KU has a great SPLH program which was my passion for a little while. After a semester though I decided that I wanted to do something different.



Tell us why you chose to major in History:

I’ve always loved history and I think its so important to take the past and learn from it. I also enjoy learning about old things and the professors in the KU history department are so fun and so passionate about what they teach I couldn’t help but change my major.



What’s the coolest History class you’ve taken?

The coolest history class I’ve taken is probably Professor Hagel’s class on the Great Depression, I learned a lot about the history of labor movements in that class and I never realized how important unions were in making the work force what it is today and creating so many standards.



Who is your favorite historical figure?

My favorite historical figure is Elanor Roosevelt. She was always up to her elbows helping people I want to be like that when I grow up. I also enjoy learning different narratives of her over time and how acceptance of the LGTBQ+ community allows us to better understand her relationships especially during a time when she couldn’t be as open.



What’s your advice to anyone studying history?

Take the class that sounds boring or is on a topic you don’t think you’ll enjoy. You will always learn something new, and it might spark a passion or curiosity for something you may not have even known about before.



What do you do in your free time?!

I enjoy listening to True Crime podcasts and learning about forensic anthropology when I’m not working on homework or working at my job.

 

Favorite Study Spot:

My favorite place to study is the stacks in Watson. The further down you go the quieter it gets. I also love the smell of the books. It’s also very convenient when I need to find a resource for an assignment!



Senior Thesis topic:

My senior thesis was on the experience of female prisoners in the Ravensbruck concentration camp during the Holocaust in Germany.



What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I will be going to graduate school to pursue an MA in History at Eastern Washington University.