Heifer Fest – Youth Engagement & Agricultural Education
Developed in partnership with the Indian River County Cattlewomen and Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, this event introduced students to Florida cattle ranching through a combination of historical context and hands-on learning. A student leader involved in 4-H guided peers through her experience raising and showing heifers, creating a strong peer-to-peer learning environment. The program connected regional history with lived experience, reinforcing agricultural traditions and youth mentorship.
Worley Cemetery Revitalization
Public History & Community Engagement
Served as Historian and Project Consultant for the Worley Cemetery Community History and Revitalization Initiative in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This project focused on transforming an abandoned cemetery into a site of historical recognition, community engagement, and local pride within an underserved African American community.
The initiative combined historical research with hands-on preservation, creating opportunities for students, community members, and researchers to engage directly with the site as an outdoor museum. As part of this work, mentored college students during a service-learning week, guiding them through archival and library-based research to assist in identifying individuals buried at the site.
Students also participated in on-site cleanup and restoration efforts, including grave marker cleaning and documentation. This integration of research and fieldwork reinforced the connection between historical inquiry and physical preservation.
Additional contributions included supporting community-based research initiatives, assisting with grave mapping and identification, and contributing to public-facing efforts that increased awareness and engagement with the site.
This project reflects a broader commitment to public history as an active, participatory process—one that connects historical research with community identity, access, and stewardship.
Luedtke Engineering –
Fundraising Campaign & Oral Histories
As part of my work with the Benzie Area Historical Museum, I contributed to the development of a public-facing fundraising campaign centered on the history and regional impact of Luedtke Engineering. This project focused on interpreting the legacy of a local business and translating that history into accessible, engaging content for a broader audience.
My role included conducting preliminary historical research on the company’s contributions to the Benzie area and shaping that research into a cohesive narrative. I produced, wrote, and directed a short promotional video for the campaign, designed to highlight the significance of local industry while supporting community-based fundraising efforts.
In collaboration with museum staff, I also contributed to short-term fundraising programming and supported exhibit development through writing, editing, and text analysis for interpretive panels and object labels. This work emphasized clarity, accessibility, and audience engagement, ensuring that historical content was both informative and compelling.
This project reflects an approach to public history that integrates research, storytelling, and program development to connect local history with community awareness and support.