Major Insight

The humanities enrich our lives in illuminating ways. They teach us to think critically, adapt to change, to ask the right questions. They teach us about ourselves, and even what it means to be human.

As one of Miami's most high profile students, Jacob Bruggeman has been an outspoken champion of the humanities. On this episode, he explains how studying the humanities will help you succeed in college, and in life.

Jacob has also been the host of Major Insight since it launched. But as he prepares for life after graduation, this episode also marks a new season, as our new host, Peter Everett, talks to Jacob about his remarkable journey through college.

Featured Majors: History, Political Science, Philosophy, Literature

Featured Awards, Scholarships, and Organizations: Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize, Geoffrion Family Fellowship, Altman Fellows Program, Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program, Miami Family Fund, Ohio Public Leader Fellowship, The Humanities Center.

As recently as May of 2019, an ingredient found in many common over-the-counter drugs was linked to the death of an infant. Curiously, use of this ingredient was still legal, and even FDA approved. This led Virginia Bulger to ask, "why?"

Virginia's research explores the complexities of drug regulation legislation. And on this episode, she also talks about how her university experiences can help other aspiring student researchers successfully pursue passion projects of their own.

Featured Majors: Political Science, Business Management

Featured Study Abroad: Jamaica, Middle East, Oman, Abu Dhabi

Featured Internships and Organizations: Consumer Healthcare Products Association Internship, King Library

On this episode, Terry Tait talks about his research that frames the Iraq War within the emerging field of borderlands studies. Terry looks how individual people try to understand their circumstances in a global world, and at how our perceptions of borders -- both visible and invisible -- can have a profound effect on our lives.

Featured Majors: History, Arabic, Middle East and Islamic Studies

Featured Study Abroad: AMIDEAST Intensive Arabic in Amman and Jordan, Oman and UAE

Max Leveridge wants to protect all species from extinction. On this episode, he talks about connecting a variety of environmental and sociological factors including geological conservation, animal behavioral ecology, and sustainability to do it.

Featured Majors: Environmental Earth Science, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geographic Information Science

Featured Organizations: Center for Animal Behavior, Undergraduate Research Committee, Miami University Sustainability Committee, National Association for Environmental Professionals, Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society

On this episode, Ellen Florek talks about reexamining the U.S. educational system, her goal to protect women's rights, and how learning about disabilities studies and social justice can bring valuable insight to students pursuing almost any career path. Ellen's work as a political science major links law, reproductive rights, and disability rights to advocate for the kinds of policies and practices that can impact the lives of people everywhere.

Featured Majors: Political Science, Special Education, Social Justice Studies

Featured Awards: Law and Public Policy Scholars Program, Bridges Program

Featured Study Abroad: Luxembourg MUDEC Program

Abby Culpepper wants us to connect with places we're from and spaces we occupy, right here and right now. As a French and linguistics major, she uses language and literature to explore our relationship with local communities and with the wider natural world.

On this episode, Abby speaks about her work with eco-poetics, why it's so important to appreciate the distinctness and richness of our own unique localities, and more.

Featured Majors: French, Linguistics, German

Featured Awards & Organizations: Geoffrion Family Fellows Program, The Office of Research for Undergraduate's Summer Scholars Program, The Humanities Center, The Dean's Scholar Program, Bishop Woods

Featured Study Abroad: Paris: Cultural Capital; Intensive German Summer in Heidelberg, Jena, Dessau and Berlin

Few fields are evolving as quickly as the field of genetics. Emily Wyatt found her calling in genetics while working in Miami University's Killian Neurobiology Lab, where she studies a protein that is known to be a possible leading cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her work has earned her a Howard Hughes Internship Award and she represented Miami at the 2019 International Emory Global Health Case Competition.

On this episode, Emily talks about her research experience, career opportunities, and how others can follow a similar path into this growing field.

Featured Majors: Biology, Bioinformatics

Featured Internships & Awards: Howard Hughes Internship Award, The International Emory Global Health Case Competition.

Featured Organizations: Killian Neurobiology Lab, The Genetics Club

For Charles Kennick, there are no boundaries between campus life and community life. During his time at Miami, Charles has become a leading advocate of student voice in all town-gown relations. He has served as the chair for the City of Oxford Student Community Relations Commission, as the Secretary for Off-Campus Affairs in the Associated Student Government, as a 3-time president of Miami's chapter of College Democrats, and more.

On this episode, Charles explains how to become civically engaged in your local campus community, the benefits of having a strong alumni base, and a career in public administration.

Featured Majors: Anthropology, Public Administration, Political Science, History

Featured Internships: Greater Cleveland Transit Authority, Ohio Public Leaders

Featured Organizations: The City of Oxford Student Community Relations Commission, Miami's Parking and Transportation Board, The Associated Student Government, Miami's chapter of College Democrats, Armstrong Student Center Board

Music: "Only Knows" by Broke For Free

As a student activist for LGBTQ rights, Hannah Clarke believes in being vocal and visible about inclusion and acceptance. Her work blurs the lines between academics and her social interests to show how both scholarship and activism can be deeply connected, and her debut novel, The Scapegracers, will be published next year.

Featured Majors: Classical Humanities, Creative Writing, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Featured Study Abroad: Literary London

Featured Organizations: Spectrum (LGBTQ student organization), The 2018-19 Altman Program, The Humanities Center

Music: "Only Knows" by Broke For Free

Where some people see challenges, Sara Rosomoff sees opportunities. While at Miami, Sara used this philosophy to research the complex history of Medicare and Medicaid, which will be published in a new book about U.S. healthcare policy. Her approach can also guide all students through the unforeseen challenges of pursuing their own passion projects.

Featured Majors/Minors: Economics, Political Science, Spanish

Featured Organizations: King Library, Department of Economics

Music: "Only Knows" by Broke For Free