Meet Katherine Dyal, a University Distinguished Scholar and College of Social Science Scholar, who will graduate from Michigan State University in 2028. With majors in Global History and Russian, and active roles at H-Net and on the HSTAR Leadership Team, Katherine is shaping a strong academic path and successful future. In this spotlight, she shares what sparked her passion for history, how MSU has supported her journey, and where she hopes it will lead.
What inspired you to pursue double majors in Global History and Russian?
When I started high school, I took AP Human Geography, which sparked my interest in world history, culture, and geography, especially after growing up very sheltered. We read Animal Farm in my English class which inspired me to start learning about the Russian Revolution of 1917. I started checking out books from my local library about Russian history and then branched out to other subjects in world history. Since then, I have fallen in love with the past and never looked back.
I had a fantastic history teacher in high school that I took AP World, AP European, and AP US History with who inspired me to pursue a history major (before, I wanted to major in creative writing). I started dreaming of being a historian and traveling across the world looking through archives, and I decided to add another major in Russian because I need to be fluent in order to be a specialist in the field. I’ve always loved language learning, and I’ve also studied Spanish and French. I have a Spanish minor right now, but I’d love to go back to French and also learn German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Czech!
How has being a University Distinguished Scholar and Social Science Scholar shaped your experience at MSU?
I’ve met some of the most amazing people through being a University Distinguished Scholar, including my boyfriend, so I will always be grateful not only for the university’s support of my education but the connections I’ve made through it as well.
I am also deeply grateful to the Social Science Scholars program, mostly for the opportunity to hold writers’ workshops where we meet to discuss our writing! I am and have always been a writer, and I love the opportunity to connect with other writers and share our work. The Scholars program has so many amazing people, and I am grateful for the opportunities and mentorship that I wouldn’t have otherwise. For instance, the program director, Dr. Waller, recommended me for my current job at H-Net and has gone out of his way to provide me the chance to conduct an independent study in history and prepare for my Ph.D. applications.
What has been your most memorable experience so far?
Last December, I got to watch The Nutcracker ballet at the Wharton Center with my boyfriend (who previously danced as the Nutcracker in another performance), and that was really special.
Can you talk about your involvement with H-Net and the HSTAR Leadership Team?
I’m a student employee at H-Net: Social Sciences and Humanities, an online organization for academics to connect and develop their scholarship in a wide variety of disciplines, which is hosted by MSU’s Department of History. As a student employee, I work on home office tasks like ingesting academic books into our database, moderating posts on academic forums, and facilitating the training of network editors. I also have the chance to create dynamic content related to history online and improve my own scholarship at H-Net. I am so lucky to have an on-campus job that engages with my major and to work with so many amazing people!
On the H-STAR Leadership Team, I have met new and prospective Honors College students and connect with future Spartans. I love speaking on panels about my experiences… if there is any chance at all that my words will help somebody make a decision or find an opportunity they otherwise would not have.
As a Professorial Assistant, what kind of work have you done, and how has it influenced your goals?
I work in the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism with Professor Eric Freedman primarily studying journalists in exile and reporting on religious freedom in the Caucasus and Central Asia, focusing especially on journalists who have been endangered by their own government for their reporting. I have researched relevant scholarly work, written a section for a research paper, analyzed news articles, and right now, we’ve begun work on coding news articles to create an aggregation of the data.
I loved presenting at UURAF with the other research assistant, and my goal is to present at UURAF all four years at MSU! I would be elated to win an award for my own independent research in my chosen field of study.
Any classes or professors who have made a lasting impact on you so far?
This semester, I’m taking HST 344, A History of Russia in the 20th Century, with Professor Matthew Pauly, and it has transformed my perspective on studying Russian history. Russian history cannot be understood without also understanding the histories of Ukraine, Belarus, the Cossacks, and all the other nationalities that made up the Russian and Soviet Empires. I am learning a lot that goes far beyond the traditional narrative of Russian history I’ve previously studied, and I look forward to expanding my knowledge further. I’m also grateful to John Waller, who leads the Social Science Scholars program, for his mentorship in preparing me for a career in academia and also being a great writing workshop participant.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
My dream is to win a Gates-Cambridge or Rhodes scholarship and get a Ph.D. in history at Oxford. I’d also love to travel all over the world before I settle down. I would love to be a history professor specializing in the Russian Empire and get to continue research while teaching. I am also considering attending law school and working as either a contract lawyer or international lawyer—this past summer I worked as an intern with a legal nonprofit called Good Counsel and learned a lot about the day-to-day work of lawyers.
My ultimate dream since I was a little girl is to be a published author. In an ideal world, I would stay home and write books all day—but for a day job, I find myself drawn to academia and law. I’m currently working on the third draft of my first novel with the goal of seeking publication! Being an author has always been my core ambition.
What advice would you give to incoming students who want to get the most out of their MSU experience?
Find opportunities to pursue your passions! Get involved in research as soon as possible, apply to every opportunity, attend club meetings, take advantage of the IM facilities, and spend time outside.
What’s your go-to campus spot?
My favorite place on campus is honestly my room because it’s where all my books are! I also love walking along the river trail, especially on a rainy fall night when the fallen leaves stick to the path, and I enjoy doing homework in the Ivy Room in Landon’s dining hall.
If you could time travel to any historical moment or era, where would you go and why?
I would love to visit Vienna in 1913 and Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, to see the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek because it was a turning point in world history. I would like to travel back to late imperial Russia to meet Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra because I’d want to see how close any of the biographers came to understanding them. I would also be interested in meeting Vladimir Lenin because I find him to be a terrible but fascinating individual and witnessing his leadership in action would explain a lot about the Bolshevik Revolution and early Soviet Union.