Mattie Culver

What are your central passion(s), and how do you plan to pursue them after graduation? How have your experiences at Flagler shaped these passions? 

My central passions include intellectual/colonial history, literature, French, and points of intersection between them. In October, I will be starting an MPhil program in World History at the University of Cambridge, where I can study these fields further. Flagler College’s history, language, and English departments gave me the freedom to diversify my interests and produce interdisciplinary research. In particular, my independent study on twentieth-century French literature with Dr. Eugenia Charoni allowed me to conduct research in a second language. Such experiences helped me lay an academic foundation upon which I cannot wait to build.  

Who or what inspired your passion in this area?  

My mother has been a constant source of personal and academic inspiration. As a historian, she always reminds me of our field’s underlying theme: exposing the human condition. Her unwavering confidence has given me the courage to seize every opportunity. Moreover, my great-grandfather's memoir, “The Poor Rockefellers,” has become a tangible reminder of my goal: to uncover perspectives lost in history’s grand narrative. His recollections, both rare and debonair, prove that the “wrong” Rockefeller with the right values can live the richest life of all.  

Can you share a memorable story from your time at Flagler that always makes you smile?

During my final semester, Alpha Omega Nu (Flagler’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta) held its first official meeting since the COVID pandemic. I was very nervous about the turnout, believing only a handful of students would come. My expectations were surpassed when nearly twenty made an appearance. Each member brought a sincere passion for history and the honor society’s future at Flagler College. Their excitement enhanced my own, and though my time at Flagler was nearly over, I knew I was leaving Phi Alpha Theta in good hands.  

Which academic resources, experiences, or mentors at Flagler were most valuable to you, and how did they contribute to your success? 

I will be forever grateful to Doctor Nicholas Miller, Doctor John Young, Doctor Eugenia Charoni, Doctor Michael Butler, and Doctor Hadley Mozer for their support on my academic journey. To have so many valuable mentors is a privilege few undergraduates can enjoy. Each has offered invaluable opportunities including an independent study in French literature, a research assistantship on global plantations, a tutoring job in the Learning Resource Center, induction into the Sigma Tau Delta, leadership positions in Phi Alpha Theta/The Flagler College Historic Review, and the chance to study abroad in France and Poland. But above all, each fosters an environment in which their students can thrive and, in so doing, has set a standard to which I will forever aspire.  

What advice or lesson would you give to your freshman year self about the college experience?  

Remain true to yourself and your passions. In so doing, you will meet lifelong friends and mentors that will help you reach your fullest potential. 

In the Flagler spirit, how do you hope to make history after graduation?

After graduation, I will be going to the UK to begin graduate school at the University of Cambridge. After acquiring an MPhil, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. and contribute to the existing scholarship that I am privileged to explore.