Employer: Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc.
Job Title: Community Education & Development Coordinator

Megan Dalabes chose to major in History with a vague desire to understand humanity better before I committed to a humanitarian cause, but I had no idea just how perfect the program would be in molding my future endeavors. Thanks to the small class sizes and passionate professors, being in the History Program felt like being part of a family. The mentorship she received from professors who were genuinely invested in her education and her future was, and continues to be, invaluable. Through the History Program she learned how to conduct credible research, communicate effectively, write both technically and persuasively, public speak, collaborate with peers, and more. These skills prepared her for what was needed to enter the non-profit sector.

Megan is the Community Education & Development Coordinator for Abuse Counseling and Treatment in Southwest Florida. She is responsible for the organization’s public relations; she conducts specialized trainings for professionals in the legal, medical, and social services fields; and she works with the general public to increase awareness on the dynamics of violence and the free resources available to victims and survivors of abuse. Her experiences in the History Program provided her with the skillset needed for grant research, grant writing, giving tours, marketing, event planning, office management, donor relations, fundraising, and more. Beyond these practical skills, her training on historical theories and disciplines gave her a unique perspective that she now brings to the table on social justice issues and human services development. Prioritizing objectivity, identifying historical context, understanding the reality of change over time, maintaining credibility, and valuing diversity are just a few of the concepts that were instilled into her as a historian that she now implements as a humanitarian. Her historical knowledge on a variety of topics, such as the foundation of American law, development of modern family structures, oppression of marginalized groups, sexuality, intersectionality, and violence against women, has greatly benefited both her daily work and the center' overall vision to prevent abuse in Southwest Florida. "Today, I consider myself indebted to the FGCU History Program that paved the way for me to secure my dream job at a local non-profit that provides services for victims of domestic violence and survivors of sexual assault/human trafficking. I can honestly say that the History Program and faculty have shaped me into the person, academic, and professional that I am today."