Why did you decide to attend Ursuline College?
I chose Ursuline because I was wanting to move back to Ohio and I was looking to obtain a master's degree in Historic Preservation. There were not a lot of options in the state of Ohio that caught my eye. A lot of the programs were either certificates, or entirely online. I wanted the hands-on experience that Ursuline was known for.
What's the best part of the Historic Preservation program?
Attending on-site visits for several courses, allowed me to observe in real time what I was learning in the classroom. Courses such as Conservation Studio, Adaptive Reuse, and AutoCAD expanded my knowledge in the field of Historic Preservation from the various site visits we were able to take.
How has your experience at Ursuline helped your career?
From day one in Historic Preservation, my advisor and professor, Dr. Bari Stith, encouraged me to visit or even volunteer at my local historical society. This truly brought me out of my shell and I found a second home at the Summit County Historical Society in Akron, Ohio. I volunteered and ended up working for the historical society. I was able to take the knowledge I learned in the classroom and apply it to certain projects for the historical society. I did an abundance of projects for my courses based around Summit County. This experience led me to other careers within Historic Preservation and has given me the opportunity to work with for the federal government, FEMA, to help rebuild after a natural disaster.
Why should other students should apply to the Historic Preservation program at Ursuline?
This Historic Preservation Program is a one-of-a-kind experience for students looking to apply what they are learning in the classroom and make real life connections with their community. It put me on the fast-track to obtaining a job in the historic preservation field right out of college. All the professors I've worked with were my biggest supporters in giving me the confidence that this is where my passion is.
What topic are you researching for your master's thesis?
I'm creating a preservation plan for the Summit County Historical Society before Akron’s bicentennial in 2025. This preservation plan will provide the historical society with documentation of structures that are in need of repair. This will give them time to obtain funding and plan out preservation tactics for the damage that has occurred on their property over time.
