(Re)introducing Me –

HIST 6001 – Introduction to Public History

My name is Lindsay and a lot has changed since I introduced myself ahead of a course way back in January 2020. We’ve been plunged into the world of the uncertain, the unknown, the unprecedented. Every facet of life looks a little bit different than it did before – classes are (mostly) online, work is done from my desk that is (hopefully) temporarily in my living room. These times even have me looking at my career trajectory differently. Opportunities seem a bit narrower, competition seems a lot tougher. I still have a full year between me and the full time job market, but I have not escaped the pandemic unscathed. A paid summer internship, the rarest of creatures, vanished before my eyes back in May.

Despite the fears and challenges of the last few months, I haven’t let COVID-19 beat me down. I’m excited and ready to jump into my second and final year as a graduate student (God forbid I talk myself into a PhD) and expand my historical and museological horizons. My phenomenal, ever-rewarding assistantship experience carried straight through the summer, thankfully, otherwise I’d be writing about missing it! It feels incredible to play an active role in conceptualizing and redesigning core exhibits on St. Louis history, sitting at the table with public historians and designers who consistently put out engaging, innovative work, and be treated as a valuable member of the team.

All this to say, all things considered, I am optimistic about the year ahead. I’m looking forward to meeting the members of the new cohort. Hopefully we can grab a socially distant coffee/tea/water/other beverage at some point! Please don’t be afraid to reach out.

Looking forward to this semester’s conversations!