Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
Course work at IUPUI allowed me to keep my current employment at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The Museum Studies Program was a great fit for me in helping me pursue a career in the museum field. Throughout my academic career, I gained skills that I use in my current museum job almost daily, including best practices and soft skills.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
This is a tough one and so there’s a tie! First, I worked with the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Cultures & Lifeways as part of my Community Collaboration and Curation course. We were able to help do archival research and help develop better conservation practices for the Museum. The whole Ziibiwing team was so wonderful and welcoming. The second accomplishment was being able to hone my photogrammetry 3-D modeling skills in my Museums and Digitization course which has allowed me to apply those skills at my current job at the Children’s Museum.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
The city has heart, with a pinch of grit. It is not perfect by any means - there is good history and bad history, but seeing the push for social justice and accountability of our civic leaders is a great start to a better more equitable tomorrow. The local music scene is awesome and I’m always finding a new artist(s) to listen to.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
Research while in school included an independent study on the degradation of plastics within The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Arts and Humanities collection. Other research work included Exhibit adaptations and developmental shifts during the Covid-19 Pandemic (including case layout and interactives within an exhibit) at the Carmel Clay Historical Society. My most recent volunteer work had been assisting Dr. Holly Cusack-McVeigh with her repatriation work.