With so many talented students on campus, it’s always interesting to hear about the various perspectives people bring to Elizabethtown College. Senior history major with a religious studies minor Madeline Shaffer is just one example of these stellar students.
From Concord, Pa., Shaffer found herself choosing the College in part due to its background. “I’m Brethren and the College has a historical connection to the Brethren denomination,” Shaffer said. The College was founded as a space for students with Brethren and Anabaptist roots to receive an education in a like-minded community. While the College has since become more secular, it remains proud of its origins and honors them in on-campus spaces such as the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist studies.
Not only is Shaffer graduating with a major and a minor, she is also graduating with a certificate in public heritage studies. Over the course of her college education, she has had many opportunities to engage in local history and other types of research. This semester, she is also completing her honors thesis with a study into religious experiences and psychotropic substances. When asked why she chose the topics, Shaffer said, “Mainly because I’m interested in Native American and Mesoamerican religion and culture…this was an interesting way to incorporate it into my minor because we don’t currently have courses in this subject.”
In addition to her studies on campus, Shaffer completed an internship at the Path Valley Historical Society this past summer. Her main job involved cataloging acquisitions for the Society. “My favorite part of the internship was a set of mortuary tools from the 1800s,” Shaffer explained. The historical society has quite a collection of different artifacts related to mortuary science in the 19th century.
Beyond her studies, Shaffer also participates in the History Club and works in the High Library as a Circulation Desk Worker.
“I love my job at the circulation desk. It’s helping to prepare me for graduate school. I’m going to Penn West to get an MSLS degree [Master of Science—Library Science],” Shaffer said. Shaffer has always loved libraries, and found herself spending much of her time there while in school. After graduating with her master’s degree, Shaffer hopes to find a job in a library or an archive. With her extensive background in history and prior experience with research and library work, she is sure to be an excellent candidate for her chosen job field.
In her free time, Shaffer likes to listen to music—especially disco music. A self-described Bee Gees “fanatic,” Shaffer also enjoys her record player. Her roommates and friends say Shaffer is an excellent gift-giver and very considerate. Although Shaffer said she is “constantly buying things,” it seems these purchases are often made to benefit others. Shaffer is also artistic, and can often be found putting together gifts and making different crochet or other projects. Her Mario Party skills are also top-notch, much to the dismay of some of her roommates.
With much more research ahead of her in her academic career with her undergraduate thesis and graduate work, it is obvious Shaffer is extremely talented and will be well-equipped for her future career. A generous and kind person, Shaffer is a wonderful part of the Etown College community.
