The History Department Student Educational Policy Committee (SEPC) is a student-faculty liaison group which provides the faculty with student input on professors, candidates, curriculum, and other department issues. It also organizes various student events, such as study breaks. There are currently eight members of the History SEPC.
- Rane Baldwin '11
- Meg Huey '12
- Winnie Mulumba '12
- Sejan Miah '12
- Liyan Chen '12
- Cara Rowe '11
- Aki Shibuya '11
- Aaron Swaney '11
Rane Baldwin '11
Rane Baldwin is a fourth-year from central Kansas. While as a Secondary Education student her history coursework is largely determined by the state of Iowa rather than her own interests, Rane enjoys studying U.S. education and cultural history. Rane’s campus activities also include instrumental music. Off-campus, Rane likes to work with the at times frighteningly similar GHS debate team and the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter. She entreats you to contact her “a la Shakira” (whenever/ wherever) with questions, comments, or suggestions about the major, the SEPC, or anything else histori-cational.
Liyan Chen '12
Liyan is from Guangzhou (Canton), the third largest city in China with more than two thousand years of history. She is majoring in both history and French -- that is why she is currently studying abroad at Sciences Po Paris. Being born in China and having studied both in the U.S. and in France, she loves American, French, and Chinese history, but really has difficulties choosing a particular field of interest. As an SEPC member, she hopes to increase diversity in history classes and to encourage more international students to join the history department. Her dream is to become a professional traveler and visit all the cool cultural and historical places around the world (if she manages to find someone to sponsor her).
Sejan Miah '12
Sejan Miah is lucky enough to have grown up in the greatest place on Earth, NYC. However, he was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but he remembers vivid details of his childhood until he left the Eastern Hemisphere at the age of four. During middle school he would often reject party invitations to read about Mary Tudor, Henry VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine. During High School he became fascinated with British Colonialism after learning about the effects it had on Bengal. He eventually declared History second semester of his first-year. When people asked him why he declared so early, he responded "Why fight the inevitable?" Thus, when Sejan was elected into the History SEPC he was ecstatic at the wonderful opportunity. He will be studying abroad in Rome of Spring 2011 and in London in the Fall of 2011. His other interests besides British and Indian History are Lady GaGa, Alexander McQueen's outfits, Tina Fey and leather boots. He's also a very good listener and willing to talk to you if you ever need anything!
Winnie Mulumba '12
Hello! My name is Winnie Mulumba and I’m very excited to be a member of the History SEPC. I was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but I have lived in Fairfax, VA for most of my life. I love living in a suburb of Washington, D.C. and I never get tired of exploring the Smithsonian or catching a show at the Kennedy Center. My main interests are the history of British colonialism and the lasting societal implications of colonialism in indigenous populations. My other interests are candy, McDonald’s apple pie, reality television (let me know if you ever want to chat about Keeping up with the Kardashians or The Real Housewives of New York City), and online shopping. This spring I will be studying history at University College London. Although I’ll miss Grinnell, I can’t wait to explore London for six whole months! I am also the SA for Loose pit, so if you ever need to find me, feel free to stop by and say hi! I hope to meet you all!
Aki Shibuya '11
Aki Shibuya is a fourth-year student from Orinda, California (which is a town right over the hills from Berkeley, California, for those who are not familiar with the San Francisco Bay Area). She traces her love of history back to the time when she read the British book series “Horrible Histories"; watched the VHS series “This is America, Charlie Brown!” and television shows like “Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?” and “Legends of the Hidden Temple”; and did living history projects at school. Although she’s taken many history classes in European and American history, Aki also enjoys studying modern African history, particularly that of eastern and southern Africa. Apart from serving on the History SEPC, Aki works at the Admission Office, assists with Rosenfield Program events, and co-leads a small group Bible study with Grinnell College Christian Fellowship. She hopes to work in either education or international affairs after Grinnell, as she loves working with students, traveling, and exploring different cultures.
