Eric Estes

         Eric Estes received his B.A. with honors in history from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1991. In the spring of his senior year, Eric decided to continue both his study of modern European history and interest in teaching at Syracuse University. During his time at Syracuse, exceptional instruction and mentoring as well as invaluable relationships with fellow graduate students were highlights of Eric’s experiences. His most rewarding classes were readings courses with Professors Marquardt, Fairchilds, Miller, and Romano. In a smaller department with student-centered faculty, strong mentoring was also the norm. Eric benefited greatly from the individual care and attention from numerous faculty, especially Professors Marquardt—his advisor—and Fairchilds. Equally important to the culture of the history department, was the intellectual and social collegiality among graduate students. Both inside and outside of the classroom, Eric owes a debt of gratitude to numerous fellow students for their friendship over the years.

         Receiving Fulbright and German Historical Institute fellowships, Eric spent 1995 and 1996 conducting research in the United States and Germany for his dissertation titled “From Second Sex to Citizens: German Women’s Politics Under the American Occupation in Hesse, 1945-52.” Upon returning to Syracuse to write, he had the opportunity to construct and teach his own research seminar as a participant in the Future Professoriate Project as well as take on administrative responsibilities working on professional development programs for graduate students in the Graduate School. While finishing his dissertation, Eric accepted a position as a Mellon Lecturing Fellow at Duke University in the fall of 2000.

         Eric has been able to continue his interests in student-centered teaching and administrative work at Duke. His teaching focuses on a series of writing intensive seminars for first year students dealing with a range of themes in modern European history. Eric is continuing his administrative work at Duke as Faculty Affiliate of The Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) Life and chair of The University President’s Task Force on LGBT Matters. He was also recently appointed by the president of the university to the new Commission on the Status of Women charged with assessing the needs and improving the condition of Duke women. While he is unsure about an eventual career path as either a teacher or administrator, Eric is both confident and grateful for the exceptional depth and breath of his training in the history department at Syracuse.