Exhibits
Explore current and past exhibits
Résumé
Work Experience
Diversity Research Historian, National Canal Museum, Easton, PA
January 2022 - Present
Led the research, design, and installation of Beyond Rosie and Rivets: Industrial Women of the D&L Corridor
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Edited oral history clips for the interactive oral history station for Beyond Rosie and Rivets
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Supervised two interns - one graphic design, one research
Led the research project working to identify and name Black canal workers of the Anthracite canals
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Researched and designed a pull-up banner on Black canal workers of the Anthracite canals
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Created a StoryMap using arcgis to interpret and share the names and locations of the Black canal workers that were found during the research project
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Lead the team that is developing a "History Mystery Box" focused on teaching middle school aged children how to use and read primary sources
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Researched and in the process of developing a graphic novel for middle school students focusing on the life of Captain James Brown – a Black canal boat captain from the region
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Lead several sessions of docent training where they were introduced to and trained on new research and additions to the museum
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Developed educational programing for Beyond Rosie and Rivets exhibit
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Developed educational programing for NCM’s off-site, hands-on, Freemansburg program
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Worked on "artifact barrel" interactive displays in the permanent exhibit
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Educator in the Beyond Rosie and Rivets exhibit and at NCM’s hands on, full day, Immersion Days program
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Professional Associations
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National Council on Public History
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Phi Alpha Theta Chi-Mu Chapter
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Phi Kappa Phi
Skills
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Microsoft Office Suite
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PastPerfect
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Content DM
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Omeka
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WordPress
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QuickBooks
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Counterpoint
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German
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Canva
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Audacity
Awards & Honors
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Provost Writing Fellowship
-- MTSU
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Phi Beta Kappa
Exhibit Designer, Prairie du Chien Historical Society, Prairie du Chien, WI
January 2021 – June 2021
Co-designer of the long term exhibit in the restored St. Germain dit Gautier House, which interprets the history and relocation of a French-Canadian neighborhood that once existed on the Mississippi River floodplain
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Worked with community members to collect images and build portions of the exhibit
Researched, drafted, and edited interpreted panel text
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Conceived of and executed a “map table” that visually represents how many structures and homes were once on the island at its height compared to today
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Edited oral history clips for the interactive oral history station
Museum Director of the Grant County Historical Society, Lancaster, WI
November 2018 – March 2020
Part-time museum director for the Grant County Historical Society
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Researched, wrote, curated, and installed the new Grant County History Museum – opened October 2019
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Community partner for a 2-part UW – Platteville public history class that created a window exhibit for GCHS
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Chair museum and fundraising committee meetings
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Started and implemented History Talk programs throughout Grant County including working with outside organizations to host the events with attendance ranging from 25 - 60 people
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Prepared budgets
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Development work including: donors and community member meetings, prepared donation thank you letters, mail out membership cards, and created donation documents
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Coordinator for group visits to the Grant County History Museum and Mitchell-Rountree Stone Cottage
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Recruit and train volunteers
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Wrote tour outline and interpretive materials for Mitchell-Rountree Stone Cottage that helped new guides prepare to give tours quickly
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Wrote a successful grant for new A/V equipment and chairs – over $1,200 received
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Implemented an Annual Appeal campaign that received approximately $5,000 in donations
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Represent GCHS at monthly Grant County Tourism Council meetings
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Coordinate museum projects and collections management volunteers
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Updated by-laws to align with current practices
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Maintained the GCHS website so all information is correct and current
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Wrote and assembled quarterly newsletter
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Design work including: posters, donation cards, and membership cards
Lead Interpreter and Store Manager, Pendarvis Historic Site/ Interpretive Support Southwest Sites, Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS)
2017 - 2019
Researched and wrote a new interpretive plan for Pendarvis resulting in increased interest in the site and greater relevance to the community
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Updated school tours for Stonefield Historic Site
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Created a tour rout for Pendarvis for visitors who have mobility issues, which allows the site to accommodate tour bus visitors
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Developed successful special events from conception to completion as well as run the event day of
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Researched and wrote posts for Pendarvis, First Capitol, and Stonefield Historic Sites Facebook pages. While working on these pages, their engagement and page likes increased significantly. Almost 3000% increase in page likes over 2 years on the First Capitol page
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Led tours of Pendarvis and Stonefield, which engage tour goers, inspire thoughtful questions, and prompt recommendations to friends and family
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My expertise in late – 19th century women’s history was utilized when asked to give feedback on the guiding principles for interpreting Women’s History as a whole for new WHS museum project
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Partnered with site directors to draft and standardize new position descriptions for lead interpreters and interpretive staff for WHS
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Presented at Pendarvis Trust meetings to explain best museum practices and suggest ways to handle their concerns
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Served on Cornish Fest committee as Pendarvis representative
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The primary author for the First Capitol webpage
Scholar in Residence, Frances Willard Historical Association
Evanston, IL
​2015 - 2017
Wrote a new interpretive plan for the museum
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Created a 4th grade standards aligned curriculum packet
Created a new annual appeal suite
Wrote a case statement for exterior work
Helped update policies and other administrative work
Graphic design
Coordinated and managed volunteer project
Graduate Assistant, Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
​2013 - 2017
Local Resources Committee for the annual NCPH conference in Nashville, 2015
Grant writing for Cumberland Trail project
Helped with arrangements for MTSU Maymester Field School 2014 on Jekyll Island
Edited Public History at Middle Tennessee State University (newsletter), organized fall 2013 "Registration Rush"
Women and Leadership Archives, Loyola University
Chicago, IL
​2012 - 2013
Processed collections, supervised reading room, assisted researchers, coordinated lecture series
Swedish American Museum, Curatorial Intern
Chicago, IL
​2012
Created exhibit on Swedish wedding traditions and bridal crowns. Helped enter artifacts into PastPerfect and other curatorial work.
Camp Algona POW Museum
Algona, IA
​Summer 2011
Researched and designed traveling and permanent exhibit on 98 women World War II veterans of Kossuth County, Iowa. Wrote supporting materials, brochures, press releases. Worked with veterans and family members to gather oral history, documents, artifacts. Gave visitors introduction to museum. Worked with museum board.
Evanston History Center, Assistant Curator, Archives Intern
Evanston, IL
​2009-2011
Processed collections, worked with collections database, assisted researchers. Served as researcher and assistant curator, “A Curious Patchwork of Evanston Treasures.” Led tours of Charles H. Dawes house. Created exhibits on Evanston postcards and Evanston lakefront. Planned events. Managed electronic communications. Performed general administrative tasks.
Education
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
​2013 - 2017
PhD in Public History with a concentration in museum and not-for-profit management
Dissertation
Temples of the City, Pillars of the Community: Three of Chicago's Museums and their Growth from the 1880s through World War II
This dissertation considers the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Science and Industry and the circumstances that surround their founding and early history. In just over seventy years, Chicago became home to many large and well-regarded museums, including those listed above. A sense of civic pride among the city’s wealthy elite fueled the rapid establishment and growth of these cultural institutions, and the founders harnessed Chicago’s two World’s Fairs to enhance their museums. The establishment of these museums was typical of the period, but extraordinary in its pace and scale. The period was marked by a collaboration of public and private actors who gathered collections, gave resources, and patronized these institutions. “Temples of the City, Pillars of the Community” sheds light on the crucial public and private support required to found and sustain strong cultural institutions.
Loyola University, Chicago, IL
​2011 - 2013
MA, Public History
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
​2005- 2009
BA (Honors), History and Political Science