Class of 2026: Aaliyah Cooke builds a future in history through research and leadership
Name: Aaliyah Cooke
College: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Major: History
Minor: Art history
Plans after graduation: Work in a museum or government setting. Later, pursue a master’s degree and Ph.D. in history with the goal of teaching in higher education
Favorite Hokie memory: Taking Professor Marian Mollin’s Women in U.S. History course
Discovering history early
Aaliyah Cooke’s interest in history began long before she arrived at Virginia Tech. Growing up near Williamsburg, Virginia, she was surrounded by historical spaces and narratives. Over time, she began to see how deeply the past shapes everyday life.
“As I grew up, I realized that history influenced everything about my life and who I will come to be,” she said.
Choosing history at Virginia Tech
Cooke carried that passion into college, knowing early on that history was the right academic path. When deciding where to study, she was drawn to Virginia Tech’s history program for its size and sense of community. She liked that it offered smaller, more intimate classes and the opportunity to connect with peers and professors.
While a historical methods course helped Cooke solidify her academic foundation by learning how to connect historical events and understand the bigger picture of the factors that led to specific situations, Marian Mollin’s women in U.S. history course shaped her experience as a history student. She appreciated that everyone in the course seemed just as invested in the content as she was, and the collaborative environment of the course made it especially meaningful.
“I felt like that class gave me the opportunity to speak freely and learn without judgement,” she said.
Learning by doing
Hands‑on research played a central role in shaping Cooke’s academic and career goals. She interned at Historic Smithfield, a living history museum and 18th-century plantation in Blacksburg, where she began to see how her history degree could translate directly into museum work. That connection deepened through opportunities to work with faculty on research projects.
One of these opportunities was working with Tom Ewing on the Influenza in WWI project, a course-based research initiative that examined Virginia soldiers who died during World War I, many during the 1918 influenza epidemic. The work pushed her to think more deeply about sources, context, and historical interpretation.
“I was assigned my own soldiers to research,” she said. “This made the project complex as I had to use countless source records to piece together entire lives. It gave me a broader understanding of the entire field.”
Developing transferable skills through history
Cooke feels confident that her history coursework has prepared her for her future by emphasizing skills that extend beyond a single discipline. She developed experience in archival research, genealogy, academic writing, public history, and exhibit creation. Those are skills she sees as essential for continuing her education and working in the field.
Reflecting on her time as a history major, Cooke pointed to the broader perspective she gained through her studies.
“My history degree taught me that the past does repeat itself, and the cycle can only be stopped if we catch the pattern and act," she said.
Community and leadership
Mentorship and community played a key role in Cooke’s experience. Support from faculty and staff in the Department of History helped shape her academic path, reinforced her sense of belonging, and showed her what was possible with the right support system.
Outside the classroom, Cooke took on a leadership role by helping revive the History Club. The club lost momentum when COVID-19 caused students to halt meetings and events in 2020. In 2023, Cooke and four other students rebuilt the organization, creating a space for students to connect around shared interests.
From regular meetings and speaker events to book drives, making s’mores, hikes, and a beloved annual trivia competition, the History Club is now active and thriving. Helping to revive the club allowed Cooke to give back to the community that supported her throughout her undergraduate journey.
“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said.
Looking ahead
After graduation, Cooke seeks a position in a museum or government setting. After gaining professional experience, she plans to pursue a master's degree and Ph.D. in history, with the goal of becoming a professor.
Along the way, she hopes to remain connected to museum work, where she sees opportunities to apply her training in public-facing and leadership roles. Together, those goals reflect a commitment to building knowledge while helping others understand and connect with the past.
