Caroline Hackett

Why FSU?

First of all, the faculty in the Department of History are top-notch. But along with their prestigious accomplishments, the faculty were encouraging and supportive the second I met them. Also, we have an incredible French Revolution primary source collection on campus, and the Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution supports its students with connections and funding.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I was teaching high school history, and loving it. I landed that job because my high school history teacher was advancing in the ranks and chose me to succeed him. I was thriving in my environment, but I always look for a new challenge. One day I wondered if I had what it takes to take things up a notch and teach at the university level. The answer was yes, and so much more. Once I got here, I realized I have the potential to research, write, critically analyze, and debate. But honestly, I pursued a graduate degree because I thought, out of all of the people who could devote their life to this, why not me?

Importance and/or impact of research and work

I absolutely love teaching, and FSU has given me the opportunity to teach undergraduate history courses. When I'm not teaching, I am working on my dissertation. My research focuses on married women in the south of France before, during, and after the French Revolution. I am specifically focused on women property owners, and my dissertation is an attempt to revise existing academic notions that women in Old Regime France lost all of their liberties upon marriage. The key to my research is the southern focus, because the laws in the south were based in Roman law, whereas northern France was governed by a separate set of customs. Thanks to my department's Walbolt Fellowship, I recently completed a five-month dissertation research trip in Montpellier. I visited the city as part of a language immersion program back in 2019 and absolutely fell in love with it; of course, I geared my dissertation focus toward returning. While in Montpellier, I met many Parisians who had proudly "escaped" the hustle of Parisian life, preferring the south's warmth, in every sense of the word. Even today, France cannot be boiled down to Paris, yet many historians assume that what went on in Paris happened all over France! I'm hoping to show that the lived experience in south was quite different, even in say, 1780.

Career aspirations

My dream is to teach European History at a small liberal arts or community college. However, I know the importance of keeping my options open. I would also love to work in a public-facing role of some kind at a museum or historic site. I also have a real interest in pedagogy, so I would be interested in a career in instructional design, too.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

If you love what you do enough to consider graduate school, you are probably good enough. Most applicants to graduate school are smart; what you really need to get by is: 1) love for your topic 2) the drive to keep going when things get tough. Once you've established that you are graduate school material, make sure the programs you're looking at are going to make sense for your situation. Is there support for your field? Fully funded doctorates in the humanities are not common, and I would not have gone into debt for this. Are faculty interested in your interests and ideas? These questions matter and will determine the quality of your experience.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I was a judge at the National History Day Advanced Placement European History Exam Reader. I have been nominated as FSU Outstanding Teaching Assistant. I presented at the Consortium on the Revolutionary Era Conference in Atlanta (2018), at the UK Society for the Study of French History (2019) and at the Western Society for French History in Canada (2022). I have published two book reviews. Lastly, I have successfully designed and taught college courses.