Zoë Maughan

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I was ready to leave my hometown for the Pacific Northwest and was drawn to the beautiful campus, the strong sense of community, and the interdisciplinary nature of the Gender Studies minor.

What have you been doing since graduation?

Since graduation, I have earned my MLIS from the University of Washington and am working as the Vietnamese Portland Project Manager at Watzek Library and as a Digital Collections Assistant at the Oregon Historical Society.

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for post-college life?

Lewis & Clark prepared me to think critically, engage meaningfully with my peers, and fostered my love of historical research which led me to my career path in Special Collections and Archives.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

There are a multitude of ways to be successful and we never stop learning.

Why did you major in History?

I majored in history because I have always been fascinated with tracing the fingerprints on human history. The choices we make in what stories we tell and what we document determine how history will be understood and what will be deemed important. Studying history gives us the chance to further understand people, societies, and reflect on how we came to be where we are today. History gives us opportunities to develop moral understanding and learn about the world outside of our singular worldview.

If applicable, why did you minor in Gender Studies?

The gender studies minor is part of what drew me to Lewis & Clark. Since I was a teen, I have been interested in the making and meaning of gender and sexuality. Getting to study history through the lens of gender studies was enlightening for me. The interdisciplinary nature of the minor is really wonderful, allowing students to apply the gender studies lens to a wide variety of fields.

How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?

I currently work at Watzek Library as the Vietnamese Portland project manager, so that keeps me really connected to campus! I also try to stay involved by keeping in touch with my classmates and attending alumni events when possible.

What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?

How can I pick only one?! One of the wonderful qualities of Lewis & Clark is that you get a lot of opportunities to build relationships with your professors. A few of my favorite classes were Gender and Sexuality in U.S. Society with Kim Brodkin, Historical Materials with Ben Westervelt, and Constructing the American Landscape with Reiko Hillyer. These classes encouraged me to look at the world from new perspectives, challenged me academically, and taught me skills that I still use today.

Where did you find your community on campus?

Maybe this is too obvious, but in class! The small class sizes not only encourage students to build relationships with their professors, but with their peers as well. The Historical Materials class especially fosters community throughout the History Department.