Get to know your Footnote staff! We asked our staff to answer a few questions about their work, their time with The Footnote, and their future plans. 

What is your program/what are you studying? 

Krystel von Kumberg (Editor-in-Chief): I am in the MAGIC program studying covert operations in Europe and Russian history. 

Josh Downes (Administrative Director): I am a second-year graduate student in the dual degree MAGIC (History)  and the MS in Foreign Service programs. For History, I study US diplomatic and military policy in Asia/Pacific at the turn of the century. My current research surrounds the behavior of US troops in the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. For Foreign Service, I study current US policy in the Indo-Pacific with a special emphasis on small island states in the Pacific.

Rosie Click (Director of Digital Content): I’m a first-year History PhD student studying US-Caribbean relations, tourism, and imperialism. I don’t have a firm idea of what I’d like to do for my dissertation, but I am interested in what we call the “Spanish-American War” and the role of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines and Hawai’i during and after the conflict.

Sareena Dubey (Social Media Director): I am a first year in the MAGIC program and I study agricultural migrant communities in the West during the 20th century!

Oscar Yu (Digital Content Assistant): I am a first-year MAGIC student at Georgetown University. My research focuses on medicine and the idea of deafness in pre-modern East Asia. 

What have you enjoyed about being on The Footnote staff?

JD: I enjoy reading all the diverse articles that we receive. I have learned a lot about areas I would not have otherwise read. 

RC: I really like getting to know other graduate students through their writing- sometimes its hard to meet people from outside of your program/cohort!

KVK: I think The Footnote is an awesome place to work, because we get to write articles on topics we find most interesting outside of the classroom, as well as further develop ideas that stem from our classes.

SD: Being a part of The Footnote, in general, has been absolutely lovely! My peers on staff are amazing and I thoroughly enjoy working with each and every one of them. The environment cultivated on The Footnote is so welcoming and uplifting, it’s great! 

What articles would you like to see published in the next year? 

JD: Two things that I would enjoy reading would be articles giving historical context to current events (any regions or topics). I’m also a movie buff so I like to read things about historical accuracy in film. 

RC: I’d love to see more articles about pedagogy- as graduate students, we are also often instructors, as TAs. We’re learning a lot about teaching, and I’d love to hear the insights and new ideas people have gleaned from being TAs.

OY: My wish would be to see more articles related to theories and methodologies in history and other fields. Even when I was reading someone’s article not quite related to my interest, I paid attention to how they framed their historical narratives. I might gain a new perspective on history and an interdisciplinary lens for my research.

KVK: I would definitely like to see articles on how important history is today and how the tools historians use can be useful in future work and interdisciplinary research. I also think we need more articles on the ways historical narratives impact today’s world, in an ideal world, The Footnote would have a historian for a designated region of the world and update the audience on specific important historical political, social, economic or cultural phenomena or trends that have influenced or impacted the world of today. A more transnational and global take on historic events could also add to our journal. 

SD: I hope to see submissions that include different types of media! I think it would be super cool to feature photography, videos, interviews, etc. on The Footnote. 

What do you enjoy about writing or editorial work?

KVK: I always find that one can learn so much from other people, and so editing is always a lot of fun. 

JD: I’m not sure I would ever say I “enjoy” editorial work, but I like the practice I get from reviewing the work. I also like seeing the different writing styles that our contributors have. 

RC: I’ll admit it, I  love editing! It’s so satisfying helping people find the right words to express their ideas, or a better organizational scheme to present their work.

OY: By writing, one can keep track of what one is thinking at a given time. In this sense, it has value for both the person herself and those who cared for her. Academically, I enjoy editing other people’s works because it can sometimes refresh me after a long day of research when I feel tired. I also enjoy reading other people’s work because it allows me to learn more about how other people tell their stories.

Why should people submit their work to The Footnote?

OY: Over the last two years, The Footnote has published 39 articles. It’s a small, student-run editing group that helps peers polish their essays by offering grammar, word choice, and flow suggestions. I think that sharing your work with others and listening to their opinions is a wise decision.

JD: It’s a relatively pain-free way to get some publishing credit and to get free feedback and editing on your work. Also what’s the point of research if you can’t share it!

RC: I second what Josh mentioned- it’s free editing! And sometimes it’s fun to write when there is no grade at stake.

KVK: The Footnote is the perfect place to launch and engage with new ideas, theories or concepts. Writing for The Footnote can help you feel more confident about spreading your ideas to the Georgetown community and beyond. 

SD: The Footnote is a wonderful and supportive publication where you can submit your work and get helpful feedback. Additionally, it is a space that allows for creativity in form, content, and narrative–so there is a lot of freedom in what you can choose to submit. 

For those graduating, what are your plans?

KVK: I am planning on pursuing a PhD in history after I graduate in May. My field of study is international security and the Cold War, specifically covert operations in Europe (Stay-Behind Ops after World War II). 

JD: Live fast, die young, write a monograph 

Image: © Clay Jackson, UrbanArchitect

You can find all of our bios at https://the-footnote.org/our-team/