Conor Howard 2016-17 History Presidential Scholar

Conor is from Plainwell, MI and a graduate of Plainwell High School who earned an Associate of Arts in international studies from Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Conor Howard and Dr. Gray

A member of WMU's Lee Honors College, he is majoring in history and expects to graduate in April 2017.  Following graduation, Conor plans to pursue a doctoral degree in history focusing on England and the Atlantic world in the 16th through 18th centuries.  He hopes to obtain a tenured position at a university, where he can follow his research interests and serve as an educator who inspires his students to have both an interest in and a passion for history. Conor's academic interests include the development of English social patterns in the Early Modern Period, especially patterns of gender, patriarchy and identity formation. His Lee Honors College thesis, titled "Idealizing Patriarchy," examines the ways in which 16th -century English household advice literature characterized masculinity and patriarchy. Conor is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society; was a judge for District 6 Michigan History Day competition at WMU; an has been a volunteer  tutor on campus with the Bronco Study Zone, run by Student Success Services in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Congratulations Conor on this prestigious award!