Q&A with Savanna Hastings, Schifferstadt Museum Intern

I chose Hood because of the professors and the academics here. It felt right.

I would say Dr. Mitchell-Buck. She was my original adviser as well as my First-Year Seminar teacher. She really encouraged me to write more and really seemed to understand that every student has a different learning style.

My favorite class was probably Exhibiting History with Dr. Harrison. In that class, we were challenged to create an exhibit by formulating an idea, organizing a museum brief and budget, researching, learning about different types of exhibits, etc. We also learned to critique other museums’ exhibits as well as critique documents pertaining to museums. It was definitely an interesting class, one that I wished I would have put more effort into as it will definitely help me in the future when I get a museum-related career.

I chose this internship based on the fact that I have been a docent before at my previous jobs. My mom is also an executive of a nonprofit organization (which Schifferstadt is). I wanted more experience in an office where there would be something new to work at every day, not just doing the same mundane tasks. I most definitely was not disappointed. I had given my résumé to the administrator of Frederick County Landmarks Foundation and was interviewed. I was notified that I got the job that same day.

Because of my grandfather, I have always been interested in history, museums and nonprofit organizations. He spent his retirement working on renovating an old family house and turning it into a museum, and I have seen what it takes to run one as well as fund it. I’ve worked at multiple historical sights and have always known that I would be working in or around a museum. I don’t know specifically what I’m going to do, but I’m excited for the future.