McGinty Fund in History fuels future leaders

McGinty Fund in History fuels future leaders

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by Karen Carlo Ruhren

Dr. Craig Symonds, professor emeritus of history at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Becca Dawson, a junior history major at Salve Regina University, are worlds and years apart in their professional journey. Yet both are connected by a very special thread: the John E. McGinty Fund in History. Bequeathed by the McGinty family in memory of the late John E. McGinty-a Salve trustee and father of John McGinty '01, a history major-the gift is treasured by faculty and students alike each year.

"Mr. McGinty was not only a successful businessman, but he was also a major history buff," recalled Dr. William Leeman, professor of history and director of the Pell Honors Program at Salve. "His legacy has been an incredible blessing for our department. It does so much to enhance the academic experience for our students."

Giving the Department of History the opportunity to provide students, faculty and staff with a highly esteemed lecture series, the McGinty Fund welcomes world-renowned historians to speak on campus each spring. This year, Leeman was thrilled to welcome Symonds, who he first met while doing doctoral research at the U.S. Naval Academy 20 years ago. A prolific historian and author of 30 books ranging from the Civil War to World War II, maritime history and the U.S. Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy, Symonds spoke on April 24, in the Bazarsky Lecture Hall on "War on Opposite Sides of the World: Eisenhower, Nimitz and the Second World War."

Among the audience members was Dawson, this year's McGinty fellow.

"I'm so excited. The McGinty's were very generous to establish this fund," said Dawson, who was nominated by history department faculty and earned her spot by demonstrating both rigor and dedication. Thanks to her fellowship, Dawson will learn more about collections management as she catalogs artifacts at the Newport Historical Society this summer. From this experience, she will be responsible for creating an individual project-an article, exhibit or a tour.

Symonds' day on campus also included a guest lecture for Dawson and her classmates in the course HIS328: America in Depression and War, taught by Leeman.

"Dr. Symonds' lecture and Dr. Leeman's class are a great way for me to tap into a 'modern' event like WWII which I'm not as familiar with," shared Dawson, whose research to date has focused on the Colonial era and the Revolutionary War, specifically one of the only known female soldiers. The McGinty Fund will also help Dawson and each rising history senior with a stipend toward their thesis research. As a result, she plans to travel to Philadelphia.

Symonds hopes that the undergraduates he addressed have gained a better understanding of what history can teach them about leadership. He used Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe and 34th President of the United States, and Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the Pacific theater, as exemplary models of leaders.

"Temperament is the single most important characteristic of any leader," said Symonds, who chaired the U.S. Naval Academy history department and was the Ernest J. King Distinguished Visiting Professor of Maritime History at the U.S. Naval War College. From Symonds' perspective, both Eisenhower and Nimitz possessed a highly effective yet not always popularized reserved style of leadership that fueled their success. "They were cool as cucumbers…and they knew how to work with people," Symonds noted. "Without them, [winning the war] would have been delayed."

Working harmoniously in opposite parts of the globe to defeat the Axis powers and win the war, Eisenhower and Nimitz knew how to cooperate with the heads of government who were not always the most accommodating people, says Symonds, citing Charles De Gaulle and Bernard Montgomery as examples.

This human interaction, according to Symonds, is what makes history come alive. It is what he has devoted his life to instilling in his students. "History is not just about memorizing the names of dead people and remembering chronology," he said. "It's understanding the way societies deal with one other. In turn, this gives you the ammunition to deal with people today." Moreover, Symonds reminds his students that "history is a valuable tool for people" in a variety of disciplines, ranging from business to science and education.

Leeman hopes that his classroom students gained a better understanding of what it means to be a historical researcher after their candid discussion with Symonds, who shared his own experiences as a researcher, historian, author and teacher. And like Symonds, Leeman wants students to see a broader picture of the World War II icons. "I certainly want them to learn more about Eisenhower and Nimitz," said Leeman. "But I'm also big on college students thinking about becoming leaders and developing into engaged citizens. What aspects of Eisenhower's and Nimitz's leadership can they relate to?"

As Dawson embarks on her career in history, she ponders her path as an engaged citizen bolstered by Salve's mercy mission in a harmonious world. From Leeman's class to Symonds' lecture, supported by the McGinty Fund, she has a running start as a young professional.

"Listening to Dr. Symonds' perspective and his experiences rising to that level of prominence and imagining where your research can take you was an inspiration," shared Dawson, who has set her sights on a career in a public historical institution or museum.

"My McGinty fellowship will be a glimpse into my future."