Alumni
Leeah Mahon ‘18
When you give through Muskingum, you can change the world!
Leeah Mahon has a passion for public history, with its power to educate and engage communities and its essential ability to capture individual stories through oral history.
In Fall 2020, she brought together a team of Muskingum alumni, faculty, and friends for the “Womxn Run the Vote” relay race, a 6-day, 680-mile virtual journey from Atlanta, Georgia to Washington, D.C. Participants in this national event ran in their usual routines or completed one of more than 80 activities that could be converted to miles. As the “Running Muskies” team logged miles, they progressed along the route to different locations and learned about key Civil Rights history events. Proceeds from the event went to Black Voters Matter, an organization dedicated to enhancing voter registration among marginalized, predominately Black, communities.
After earning her Muskingum Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Leeah completed her Master of Arts in Public/Applied History from Indiana University (Indianapolis, Indiana).
During her graduate studies, she interned with Indiana Humanities, where she helped lead the official 100th anniversary statewide commemoration of Indiana’s ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, and with the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, where she helped the organization win a coveted national American Association for State and Local History Excellence in History Award.
“My time at Muskingum equipped me with a deep, comprehensive understanding of the past, which prepared me to help others today,” Leeah reflects. “Muskingum gave me the agency to speak out when I believe in something.”
“My history professors, Dr. Karen Dunak, Dr. Alistair Hattingh, and Dr. Laura Hilton are the best educators I have ever had and remain my great mentors. They encouraged me in my passion for history and helped me to recognize its value in a multitude of professions as well as in daily life.”
“I am so grateful for my Muskingum education and for the scholarships I received. I would not have been able to attend the University and graduate without that financial assistance. I’m one of five children in our family, and only two of us attended a four-year college – we are both Muskies!”
“My brother John Mahon ’05, who is married to Belinda Ronevich Mahon ’05, and I followed in the footsteps of our uncle John Fisher ’76 as Muskies, along with our cousin Joe Fisher ‘12. I treasure my entire Muskingum experience, especially the friendships I made as a member of FAD and of the Phi Alpha Theta history honorary society.”
Leeah looks forward to continuing her career as a public history and humanities professional in roles where she can strengthen the vitality of communities while engaging and educating citizens.
