Outstanding Graduate from the Department of History: Chanamon Lerdnitiseth
Chanamon Lerdnitiseth majored in Secondary Education with a focus on History and Social Studies. Originally born in Bangkok, Thailand, she now lives in Prescott, Arizona, where she has just recently finished her student teaching at Prescott High School.
Chanamon cites Professor Christi Carlson as the most influential person in her time at NAU. Through Professor Carlson, she discovered a fresh new perspective on teaching history and social studies—one that emphasizes more active student learning and autonomy. Chanamon’s favorite courses and assignments were the ones that challenged her to research and write the most, including the unit plans for her social studies pedagogy classes and her senior capstone final paper.
Above all else, her goal as a teacher is to share her love of history and learning with her students, with the hope that they will grow to be well-rounded and informed citizens. She believes that history is a powerful unifying force, asserting that history connects disparate peoples and eras through shared experiences, events, and cultures. As we look toward the future, we must first reflect and build upon the past to appreciate how far we have come. Her favorite subject to teach is World History. Chanamon hopes to teach social studies full-time in the Prescott area before broadening her horizons elsewhere in Arizona.