Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Vikram Tamboli traveled to the Caribbean as part of his research work with Dr. McNeill. (Courtesy Vikram Tamboli)

By LiAnna Davis

Vikram Tamboli came to Georgetown because of its vibrant political scene. The 2006 graduate was active in the Georgetown Solidarity Committee and the Georgetown Living Wage Campaign during his four years on the Hilltop, but he also explored politics through research work he conducted with Dr. John McNeill, professor of History.

“He introduced me to environmental history, and he is a great teacher,” Tamboli says of his reasons for wanting to work for Dr. McNeill.

Tamboli, a History major and Sociology minor from Palos Verdes Estates, California, became interested in Dr. McNeill’s environmental history research after taking his introductory world history course, Nature and Nations. Tamboli received a GUROP research assistantship to help Dr. McNeill in investigating the role of disease epidemics in forming the history of the Caribbean.

“I primarily conducted archival research,” Tamboli explains. “I studied how yellow fever and other diseases had an impact on the political history of the Caribbean—specifically, the 18th century siege of Havana and the 19th century Cuban wars for independence. I had an amazing opportunity to travel in the Caribbean and visit numerous archives to look for primary sources.”

Tamboli’s archival work was integral in developing his interest in historical research. Tamboli, who is currently doing independent research consulting in Nigeria, will begin his doctoral studies in Latin American History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall.

“I believe Georgetown helped me orient my interests in a productive and unique way,” he says. “The professors I had at Georgetown grew to be much more than teachers. I feel a great closeness to them and believe that this closeness definitely influenced me in pursuing a graduate degree in history.”

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