I was a doctoral candidate at Middle Tennessee State University in the Public History programfrom 2010-2013. I completed my coursework in 2011, within a year of starting the program. I then worked as a PhD Resident in the MTSU History department.
In addition to academic work, I was also very involved with student organizations at MTSU. I was the President of the MTSU Graduate Student Association which serves all 3000 graduate students at the university. Along with those duties, I was also active with the professional development committee, and the Health and Wellness committee. I served as a Student Government Association Graduate Senator for the 2011-2012 academic year, and I have been active in the Association of Graduate Students in History. I was the PhD Representative to the Public History Graduate Committee for AGSH for 2011 and 2012, and I have also been a member of Phi Alpha Theta since 2008.
As a Graduate Research Assistant for the Public History program in 2011, I created a new orientation program for new history graduate students, and I also edited the Spring 2011 Public History Newsletter. This fall I will be coordinating a workshop for museum and cultural organization professionals in our region called, “Disability and Your Cultural Organization: Sensitivity and Strategies for Going Beyond ADA.” It was held Saturday November 3, 2012 from 9AM – 3 PM at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. More information is available by clicking this link.
As a public history resident I taught World Civilizations 1 and Explorations in Public History. My students’ work is presented on another website, Explorations In Public History.
I wrote my dissertation which is titled, “Serving Under-served Communities in Museums and Historical Organizations: Creating Meaningful Public Programming.” My abstract states, “Throughout history there have been many populations that have been discriminated against or ignored by institutions and organizations of all types. The same is true of museums, and some might argue that those problems still exist today. Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act it seems that museums and historic organizations are still behind in reaching out to and welcoming people with learning or developmental disabilities. This dissertation will explore past and current relationships and attempts at inclusion of people with developmental or cognitive disabilities, and possible alternatives and programming developed specifically for secondary education students who are in special education classrooms at museums and historical organizations. This dissertation will also include a model for museums to use in developing programming and welcoming under-served populations into organizations.”
My complete dissertation proposal is available by clicking this link, and my working bibliography is available here.
The dissertation was recently accepted in an altered form for publication by Rowman and Littlefield.
My complete doctoral portfolio and more information about the Public History PhD Program are available on my site, Stringer Doctoral Portfolio.
Katie Stringer Clary, PhD 