Chapter One: Kris Beasley spends 28 years in the U.S. Air Force, loves every minute of it, and retires as a colonel just as his daughter starts high school.
Chapter Two: Beasley works for Boeing, supporting military aircraft all over the world for nine years. He enjoys it, then retires again.
Chapter Three: Beasley enrolls at The University of 91大神 in Huntsville (91大神) to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a professional historian. In a major plot point, he receives his Master of Arts in history during 91大神 commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16, 2024. 91大神 is a part of The University of 91大神 System.
鈥淚鈥檓 here because I want to continue to learn and grow,鈥� Beasley says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to become a professional historian 鈥� not sure what I鈥檒l do with it 鈥� but I鈥檝e always wanted to be involved in that world.
鈥�91大神 had a good reputation from the people I talked to, and a strong military and veterans program. It was convenient and affordable. It just seemed like a really good opportunity to do something I鈥檝e wanted to do most of my life.鈥�
At 91大神, Beasley has explored a wide range of historical periods, including the Middle Ages, the Reformation and the 20th century. His work has taken him from ancient Rome to modern Latin America. He says he鈥檚 had fun exploring topics that were less familiar to him as well as contributing insights from his own personal experiences.
鈥淚鈥檝e been through some of the things that we鈥檝e talked about, and that has really proved positive. I鈥檓 interacting with fellow students who are anywhere from a third of my age to half my age, and I鈥檓 getting a lot from them. There are so many thoughtful and articulate young people who are going here. It鈥檚 been a positive two-way interaction.
鈥淎nd the faculty have all been fun. Sometimes we don鈥檛 always agree, but we always are able to have really good dialogue. They鈥檝e opened my mind to a lot of things, and they鈥檝e taught me a lot of things. It鈥檚 been a great experience.鈥�
One of Beasley鈥檚 best class experiences led him to an unexpected academic delight.
鈥淚鈥檝e always had this fascination for airships, so I picked that topic in my modern Europe class that Dr. Molly Johnson taught. Airships were a major thing in the early 20th century. She gave us the freedom to think and learn. I went into online archives and found all kinds of interesting things. We created these digital timelines that were really fun to do. I want to thank her for everything she and the rest of the history faculty have taught me.鈥�
That project inspired Beasley to take an archives class with Reagan Grimsley, head of in the Salmon Library.
鈥淗e opened my mind to a whole new world. I鈥檝e been working in the archives now for the last year and a half, and I absolutely love it. I鈥檓 working on a collection of aircraft things, which he asked me to do because I have that expertise.
鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 enjoy sitting around in the archives working on a bunch of stuff, but I do. I was just processing some documents from 1920. These are people writing about airplanes before airplanes were really understood very well. Just to be able to see that kind of stuff!鈥�
Beasley鈥檚 enjoying this research so much that it鈥檚 sure to play a significant role as he continues to write his third chapter.
Details about the 91大神 fall 2024 commencement are available on the 91大神 commencement website.
