Public History Alumni

Oct 23, 2017

Diving into Community-Driven Public History Work

“Sometimes things work out.” That’s what many of us hear throughout our lives, especially when we enter a challenging time in our lives or encounter a seemingly impossible obstacle. As historians and other humanities professionals know well, the job market is a tough nut to crack. There is no doubt about that; the employment application process can be a frustrating and disheartening experience.

Oct 19, 2016

Wolfpack Nation: Joy Raintree retains history at South Carolina’s Redcliffe Plantation

Students on field trips and other visitors pass over the grounds of Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site in Beech Island, S.C., everyday with questions about life in the Antebellum South or James Henry Hammond, the man who built the plantation in 1859. But Park Manager Joy Raintree may not always give them the answer they want. In fact, she may give them no answer at all.

Dec 7, 2015

Public History Alum Named Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

The National Archives recently named Meredith Evans, who received her master's in public history at NC State in 1998, as the Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. Read the National Archives' Press Release

Nov 3, 2015

Alumna keeps track of North Carolina’s historic documents

You might say Sarah Koonts is in charge of North Carolina’s attic. Koonts, who got her master’s in public history at NC State in 1993, is the state archivist (official title: director, N.C. Division of Archives and Records). She’s responsible for keeping track of more 100 million items that include government records, documents and maps that tell North Carolina's history.

Sep 30, 2015

Alumna helps bring old Dallas to life at living history museum

There are two things in life that never go wasted and those are education and hard work. Miss Prycer seems to have perfected in both those areas. No wonder she is the executive director of such a well-known history museum. You are a huge inspiration for all of us and I wish you all the luck in your future endeavors.

Sep 1, 2015

Public History Alumna Heads Dallas Heritage Village

Melissa Prycer, who received her master’s in public history in 2003, now heads the Dallas Heritage Village, a one-of-a-kind living history museum in Dallas, Texas. The highly-interactive historic site tells the story of life in north Texas between 1840 and 1910. In an area primed for redevelopment, the Dallas Heritage Village has much to look forward…

Oct 13, 2014

Hilary Goodnow, Public History Alumna, publishes article in Plimoth Life

Hilary Goodnow, an onsite interpreter at the Plimoth Plantation, graduated with a Public History MA from NC State in 2013. On the Mayflower II, she plays Alice Rigsdale, and in the 17th century English village, she plays Mary Warren. Hilary wrote several pieces for Plimoth Life, including a “From the Record” feature titled “Ordinary People,”…

Oct 6, 2014

Josh Hager, Public History Alumnus, Wins Jeopardy!

Josh Hager, an archivist at the State Archives of North Carolina, recently won “Jeopardy!”,  taking home a $27,000 prize. Josh graduated with a Public History MA from NC State in 2011 and his Master of Science in Information Science at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2013. The News & Observer reported on Josh’s win on October 5th. In August 2014, Josh…

Sep 26, 2014

Amanda Smith, Public History Alumna, Wins Teaching Award!

Amanda Smith, a teacher of social studies at Beaufort County Early College High School and NC State graduate, has been named North Carolina History Teacher of the Year for 2014. The award is sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, The History Channel, and Preserve America. Amanda graduated with a Public History MA degree…