Rian McLaughlin Holland graduated with First Class honors in History from Queen Mary, University of London, in 2011 with one year at UCLA. For his thesis he focused on the influence of socialism within Irish Republicanism drawing on intellectual history, but also concentrated on both Middle Eastern and North American History. Originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland, Rian first studied film in Bristol before going on to work as a camera operator and researcher in documentary films. He hopes to be able to combine his previous experiences and academic interests in the Global History MA program.