In My Student Experience, our Success Connectors speak to subject heads within the School of the Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH) to find out more about their experiences as a student, their opinions on the School, and their advice for students studying in MAH.

This week, our connectors speak to Katharina Rietzler, Head of American Studies.

Katharina Rietzler 

Katharina Rietzler is a Senior Lecturer in American History and the Head of American Studies. Her main research interest is the history of international thought from the 1910s to the 1960s, with a focus on the United States and women as international thinkers.

What was your experience as an undergraduate like?

I had quite a challenging time as an undergraduate student as I did an inter-disciplinary degree that was a bit disjointed and not what I thought it would be. The highlight of my degree was my year abroad in the USA as this helped me to grow personally and pushed me to make friends in an unfamiliar environment. I did find American bureaucracy surprisingly difficult as there were a lot of forms to fill in. I would encourage students to do a year abroad if they can.

What do you think of Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH)?

I really enjoy that MAH unites a range of different disciplines, and this means that there are lots of cross-disciplinary opportunities, in terms of teaching and research. 

What do you think makes a successful MAH student?

I would encourage students to take advantage of events on campus, even if they are not relevant to their course, as attending events gives you the opportunity to observe, practise asking questions and learn from others. Engaging in extracurricular activities will sharpen your critical thinking skills and ensure that you get the most out of your degree. I would also recommend doing as much reading as you can, as this is a time when you will read the most widely and even if something is difficult, some information will filter through. 

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I enjoy cycling and wild swimming in lakes, and I am really not scared of heights. My favourite place would be on a mountain top.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would want the ability to fly as who wouldn’t want to be able to fly?