In the Fall of 2001, George Mason University began its Ph.D. in History program under the leadership of Roy Rosenzweig, founder of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (RRCHNM). The degree, which required students to train in digital humanities methods, was the first of its kind. Marketed under the catchphrase, "A Doctorate with a Difference," the program offered students a wider range of job opportunities beyond the traditional tenure-track path. The vision was that students could use their traditional and digital expertise to pursue careers in public history, archives, and digital humanities centers as well as bring their digital training to tenure-track positions.

2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the program--an ideal moment to reflect on how the digital humanities have transformed doctoral education. GMU’s Ph.D. in History program has a proven track record in placing its doctoral students in meaningful careers in professional history and the digital humanities. This panel is a roundtable conversation with key alumni from the program who work in history and digital humanities in a variety of settings. These alumni are now shaping the future of digital history in public history, tenure-track teaching, and graduate education including Clemson University’s new Ph.D. in Digital History. The roundtable discussion will offer a meaningful opportunity to assess the current state of doctoral education in history and the digital humanities and the professional opportunities it affords.

Panel participants include: Moderator, Dr. Suzanne Smith, Ph.D. Director (2000-2008; 2022-present), George Mason University; Dr. Lincoln Mullen, Executive Director of RRCHNM, George Mason University; Dr. Jeri Wieringa, Assistant Director of the Center for Digital Humanities, Princeton University; Dr. Joshua Catalano, Assistant Professor, Clemson University; Dr. Greta Swain, Assistant Professor, University of North Texas; and Dr. Jessica Dauterive, Digital Humanities Consultant, National Park Service Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow.