RaGena (Gena) DeAragon:
CLASS OF 1970
Burlingame High SchoolClass of 1970
Burlingame, CA
University of CaliforniaClass of 1982
Santa barbara, CA
Santa Clara UniversityClass of 1974
Santa clara, CA
RaGena (Gena)'s Story
At Burlingame High, I was something of a bookworm, a serious student. When I went to Santa Clara Univ., I made a conscious choice to become more social while still attending to my studies. It worked, as I'm still in touch with several friends I made in college. After graduation, I worked for a year to make enough for a masters in medieval history. The masters led to a doctorate, both at UCSB. I applied for a one-year teaching position at Wichita State Univ. for the practice of applying. I thought I wouldn't possibly get the job as I was still working on my dissertation. I was shocked when they offered me the position. I ended up teaching at WSU for two years, then getting a tenure-track position at Gonzaga Univ. in Spokane, Washington. And here I've been ever since.
School
Studying in Europe in the summer of '69 was one of my most formative experiences. I traveled with a group of west coast students and the music teacher from my high school, Mr. Rando, for 4 weeks of study at the Royal Academy of Music in London (as well a...Expand for more
s attendance at plays, musicals, and field trips outside London). Then we crossed the Channel and took the train to Salzburg, Austria, for the Mozart festival. We had two days in Paris before flying back to SF. It was well worth all the work I did to pay for the trip.
In college, two professors were most inspirational: Dr. Lievestro in English and Dr. O'Keefe in History. I was a History major from the start, but Dr. Lievestro ran his literature class by the Socratic method. You couldn't get an A if you didn't participate in the class discussion. That was the turning point in my college career; by the end of the quarter, I raised my hand after almost every question he posed. Dr. O'Keefe taught British and Irish history, and helped me develop my love of history into the skills and mindset needed to succeed in graduate school.
Workplace
My most recent publication appeared in print in April, 2007: "The Child-Bride, the Earl, and the Pope: The Marital Fortunes of Agnes of Essex" is a chapter in Henry I and the Anglo-Norman World.
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