Profile

Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
M.A. History, Public History Concentration 2008
Thesis: “Presenting Slave Life: The interpretation of slave life and its place in public history and at Historic Latta Plantation”

B.A. Psychology 2004
Minor: History

Related Experience

Historic Consultant
Interpreting Slave Life Oct 2011-present
Help historic sites discuss the emotional topic of slavery in the United States through staff training, exhibit consultation and program development as well as provide public lectures on the every changing interpretation of enslaved peoples.

2011 Student Freedom Ride
Community Liaison Rock Hill, SC  Jan 2011- May 2011
Organized a meet and greet luncheon with Rock Hill community leaders, the Friendship Nine  and student riders for the 2011 Student Freedom Ride as part of the WGBH/American Experience commemoration of the 1961 Freedom Rides and film, “Freedom Riders” that premiered May 16, 2011. Worked with South Carolina ETV to set up screenings of documentary before air date and participated in panel discussion on the events during the Freedom Rides.

Rock Hill Jail, No Bail 50th Anniversary Celebration
History & Culture Subcommittee Chair Jul 2010- Feb 2011
Led the redesign of the Friendship College website with Springboard Advertising/Design. Assisted in organizing community screenings for South Carolina ETV’s documentary, “Jail, No Bail”. Created a trailer to highlight Rock Hill’s fight for Civil Rights shown at the Friends of the Nine Dinner Gala.

Culture and Heritage Museums, Rock Hill, SC
Historic Interpreter Oct 2009- Sept 2011
Interpreted the enslaved African American experience at Historic Brattonsville. Presented slave life to school groups Pre-K-12 from North & South Carolina as well as Tennessee with curriculum based programs to meet educational standards. Provided living history demonstrations to all site visitors. Created weekend programming based around the lives of the enslaved owned by the John S. Bratton family.

Historic Latta Plantation, Charlotte, NC
Research Intern, African American History May 2007- Aug 2007
Researched the slaves of planter James Latta in order to create specific educational programs around their life and work. This included a first person guided tour from the eyes of the enslaved, exhibit design for the slave cabin and school programs on the Latta slave community.

Memberships, Committees, & Awards

 

Southern Historical Association Membership Committee, 2017
National Council on Public History Nominating Committee Member, 2015-2018
American Association for State and Local History Programming Committee, 2014 & 2015
2011 New Professional Award Recipient, National Council on Public History
National Association for Interpretation, CIG Certified
American Association for State and Local History, Member
National Council on Public History, Member
By the Sweat of our Brows: The African American Experience at Historic Brattonsville, 2010 & 2011
Joseph McGill/Brattonsville Slave Cabin Visit Committee Chair

Presentations
2015 Presenter, American Association of State and Local History, “Grappling with Civil War Iconography”
2015 Presenter, The Slave Dwelling Project at Historic Stagville
2015 Presenter, Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage, “Interpreting Slavery”
2015 Presenter, National Council on Public History, “Giving Voice to the Long-Silenced Millions: Best Practices for Interpreting Slavery at Historic Sites and Museums”
2014 Presenter, Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event
2014 Presenter, The Slave Dwelling Conference, “Interpreting Slave Life”
2014 Presenter, American Association of State and Local History, “The Role of Racial Identity in Interpretation”
2013 Presenter, Historic Stagville Harvest Festival
2013 Presenter, Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event, “Interpreting Slave Life”
2013 Panelist, American Association of State and Local History, “The Importance of Addressing Difficult Topics in History”
2013 Presenter & Panelist (multiple sessions), Gettysburg College, The Future of Civil War History: Looking Beyond the 150th
2013 Presenter, Andersonville National Historic Site, “Life After Freedom”
2012 Seeking New Shelters: The 1862 Evacuation of City Point, Petersburg National Battlefield
2012 Panelist, Stetson University, “Discussing the Confederate Flag”
2012 Presenter & Panelist, Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, “Sharing the Load: Interpreting Slave Life in Third Person” and “Slavery and Memory: Where Do We Go From Here?”
2012 Lecturer, Historic St. Mary’s City, “Interpreting Slavery”
2012 Panelist, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Museum Studies program, “The Challenge of Diversifying Museums”
2011 Presenter, National Council on Public History Annual Meeting, “Slavery Across the Atlantic”
2011 Presenter, York County Democratic Party Women’s History Month Luncheon
2011 Presenter, Matthews Historical Foundation, “Slavery in the South”
2011 Panelist, UNC Charlotte Graduate History Forum 2011blic History Annual Meeting, “Slavery Across the Atlantic”
2011 Presenter, York County Democratic Party Women’s History Month Luncheon, “The Role of Women in Early America”
2011 Presenter, Matthews Historical Foundation, “Slavery in the South”
2011 Panelist, UNC Charlotte Graduate History Forum

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