Kyle Handke is a student of history with a passion for travel.  Kyle’s wanderlust began with a family road trip to the East Coast of the United States when he was 8 years old.  During that trip, he visited Washington D.C. and several Civil War battlefields thereby opening his eyes and mind to the invaluable lessons found in history.  That trip began the union of these two passions and instilled in him a desire to experience the world and the cultures that shape it.

Another impactful childhood trip was going to Hawaii a few weeks before 9/11.  This was also Kyle’s first time flying and hence it became another thought-provoking experience. Witnessing the drastic changes in travel practices and geopolitical climate firsthand further motivated him to compare the past and present. Traveling while simultaneously prompting his ideas for historical research has been enlightening. These experiences have taught him the importance of critical thinking skills in the relationship between the individual and collective.  

As an adult, Kyle’s travels have taken him beyond the United States to places such as Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.  His interest in history also expanded when he received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Winona State University and Master of Science in History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Both his undergraduate and graduate experiences have taught him the importance of understanding the past to guide the present, and shape the future.  

Completing his master’s degree during the COVID-19 Pandemic challenged Kyle to be adaptable with his research methods.  Many of the conventional sources of information such as archives, libraries and museums were inaccessible.  Travel was significantly limited as well making it difficult to travel for leisure and research.  Since then, Kyle has continuously looked for ways to travel more and share his experiences and historical observations with others.

For more information about Kyle’s education and formal studies, please visit his graduate portfolio:  https://khandkemshistory.wixsite.com/portfolio