Also, she said, the two-week SWAT project has allowed Rockwood and UD
to develop a relationship that could translate to additional student
internships or other opportunities.
The SWAT team students were equally enthusiastic about the project.
Some plan to pursue careers in museum work, while others are expecting
to remain in academia, but all say that the hands-on experience and
exposure to material culture is beneficial.
Graduate students (from left) Patience Ankomah in fashion and
apparel studies, Sam Nystrom in English examine books in a storage area
at Rockwood.
No matter what I decide to do, I think this will make me a stronger scholar, said Robinson, a student in UDs Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. She took a break from her doctoral program to gain that experience in UDs prestigious program, she said.
Harriette Lane, now a UD doctoral student in the history departments
American Civilization program, has previous experience in museum work,
including earning a masters degree through a program at Londons
Victoria and Albert Museum.
I was interested in material culture studies, and a lot of curators
recommended the University of Delaware to me, she said. You get a lot
of exposure to different aspects of a career, such as collections and
archives. And we all have different backgrounds, so were learning
from each other, too.
About Community Engagement
The University of Delaware cultivates civic-minded, engaged citizens through partnerships that impact communities needs. Community-based experiences
are woven into UDs teaching, research and service activities where
students, faculty and staff apply knowledge and creativity to the
critical challenges facing communities in Delaware and around the
world. In 2015, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
recognized this commitment, designating UD as a community engaged university, an honor awarded to less than 10% of U.S. colleges and universities.
Article by Ann Manser; photos by Evan Krape