BA in Art History

Isabel Grewatz Feliciano, 2024

What was the most impactful class you took in your major? what made it so? The professor? The assignments? What you read or learned?

Not one, but two classes impacted me the most during my time at Mason. They were the first Art History classes I took when I switched my major in Sophomore year, Art of Renaissance Italy 1300-1500 and Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Both of these classes were some of the most engaging and interesting classes I have ever taken. From the assignments to the professors, I received experiences and knowledge that set the foundation for the rest of my college career in Art History.

To this day, I recommend Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt to anyone who is interested in ancient history or is just looking for a class about art history that is fun and engaging. The way Professors Bauman and Williamson spoke about their respective topics washed away any doubts I had about switching my major and pursuing what I truly could see myself doing. Seeing them in their element gave me the greatest motivation to succeed in Art History.

What activities were you involved in during your time at Mason that impacted you? A club? Research? Internship? Study abroad? Can you describe that experience a bit? 

I was really lucky to experience all that Mason could offer, from work to study abroad, I was encouraged to make the most out of my college experience and I did. I began volunteering for a departmental student organization in my sophomore year called PAC, the Patriots Activities Council. PAC is responsible for organizing and providing low or no cost events for students at Mason to promote an engaged and memorable experience. I eventually worked my way up to a Board member position as the Social Media Lead for PAC and have been with them for two years now.

In the Art History department, I served as one of the Art History ambassadors for the year of 2023-2024 and worked as a Teaching Assistant. I also had the opportunity to participate in two art history study abroad programs. From Roman to Parisian: The Urban Experience in France from Antiquity to Modern Era, winter 2024 and Venice Biennale Art and Art History, summer 2024. Both studies abroad opportunities allowed me to have hands-on learning experiences that impacted me deeply. Lastly, because of so much departmental support from the Art History faculty here at Mason, I participated in a summer internship at the Chrysler Museum of Art in summer of 2023.

What is your most memorable moment at Mason inside or outside of the classroom? Can you describe it?

Getting accepted to the Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's program is one of the foundational moments that I will never forget from my time here at Mason. I knew when I transitioned from Forensic Science to Art History that I wanted to continue to graduate school and that there was a program at this school that could help me achieve this goal. From the moment I switched I worked as hard as I could to be able to further my education. I applied for the BAM program in my first semester as a junior and I was accepted! I remember feeling relieved and excited that I was able to continue my education at this school and in a department that has provided me so much support and knowledge throughout my three years in Art History.

As your reflecting on your time at Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their Mason journey?

One piece of advice I would have for incoming freshmen is to take advantage of everything this school has to offer. Join clubs, attend events, and talk to everyone. From the people on your floor and your roommates to your classmates. I was lucky enough to meet some of my greatest friends in my freshman year just because they lived on my floor, and I have made some lifelong friends just because I asked, “do you want to study for this test together?” There is always something happening on campus and all you have to do is go out and make the most of your experiences.

What is your next step after graduation? What are your future plans?

My plan after graduation is to continue my studies here at Mason through the Accelerated Master’s program. I will be starting as a full-time graduate student this upcoming semester and I am very excited.