On Friday, 27 June, NASA organized its first American Studies Student Career Day at Radboud University in Nijmegen. This event was specifically designed for American Studies students exploring potential career paths within and beyond the academic world. The event was organized by NASA board member Marcella Schute, and several students from Leiden University and Erasmus University.
With a warm and enthusiastic welcome, NASA president Frank Mehring opened the event by greeting the new student members of the Netherlands American Studies Association. He highlighted the many opportunities NASA provides, including hands-on workshops, American Studies student days, and opportunities to publish in the peer-reviewed student journal Netherlands American Studies Review, as well as grants and travel support for attending the annual NASA conferences.
Frank also emphasized the association’s extensive network of societal partners, which offers students valuable real-world experiences and career insights. He went on to explain NASA’s important role within the European Association of American Studies, noting that every NASA student member automatically becomes part of a broader European network. This membership provides students with access to research collaborations, academic events, and career development opportunities throughout Europe.
After the introductory remarks, the program continued with the first of its three main sessions. Each session addressed a different aspect of professional development for the students. The first session focused on academic career opportunities and was led by Prof. Dr. Susanna Ashton, professor at Clemson University (South Carolina, USA) and currently a guest researcher at the Centre for the Arts in Society at Leiden University. Prof. Dr. Ashton provided practical advice on applying for PhD programs in the United States. Her talk was followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Jeanine Quené and Christine Mertens, who shared valuable insights into their experiences as PhD candidates in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, respectively.
The second session, dedicated to career skills development, was led by Atse Fokkens, who is a career advisor at Leiden University. This highly interactive session focused on the practical side of preparing for the job market. The students engaged actively during this session and posed some very insightful questions about how to shape their CVs and LinkedIn profiles.
The final session explored career opportunities beyond academia, particularly in the public sector. PhD candidates Iris Plessius and Nicolas Turner discussed their experiences as PhD candidates in American Studies as well as their work in the public sector. Iris Plessius has worked at various museums and shared her experience with students on how to combine academia with public engagement. Nicolas Turner has worked at the British government before and shared his experience on policy work in the public sphere. Their contributions, in general, highlighted the diverse professional possibilities available to graduates in the public sector.
After sessions filled with guidance and practical tools, the program wrapped up with a lively pub quiz on American history and culture.
As the event came to a close over complimentary drinks at the CultuurCafé on Radboud Campus, students left inspired to pursue the next steps in their careers, mindful of Emerson’s conviction that “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”—a spirit that animated the entire day!
See you at the next American Studies Career Day in 2026!