Students
Class of 2013
Laurel Bartlett
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Geneseo State University
A native New Yorker, I was born in western New York and grew up in the Hudson Valley. Growing up in a dilapidated resort area, I was always disheartened by the vacant hotels and deteriorating landscape. And it was during the pursuit of my B.A. in Political Science that I took a course in Urban and Regional Planning and was introduced to the concept of Historic Preservation. So following graduation, I went where every aspiring politician goes…to Savannah, Georgia of course! After living in Savannah for four years I developed a deep appreciation for the planning of preservation activities as well as the restoration process and antebellum architecture. After working in the financial and insurance industries, I decided to continue my education with my true passion and redirect my career path towards Historic Preservation. My principal interests are in historic materials and conservation and I hope to pursue the Architectural Conservator route following graduation.
My thesis will address visitor impact at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the resultant degradation of the architectural fabric and finishes.
Charlotte Causey
Bachelor of Arts in History, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of Alabama
I was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just across the Cooper River from Charleston. I got my undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in History and Anthropology. Though I have very little experience in the preservation field, I have always had a soft heart for it, whether it is a document or a historic site. There is just something incredibly fascinating about the stories that exude from them, leaving numerous questions for us to answer. How did we get to where we are? What can we do to learn from our past and apply it to our present and future? I’d like to utilize my interest to educate the public in a non-traditional format, using visual examples to explain how we got to where we are today and where we may be going from here.
Besides history, I love anything that involves the water (especially swimming), reading, and English method ringing.
My thesis will involve surveying all of the church towers on the Charleston peninsula. I will be focusing on their purposes within the community, how they have been portrayed to the public, and the preservation efforts to maintain them.
Emily Ford
Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Florida
After growing up in Lake Mary, Florida, and finishing a BA in History at the University of Florida in Gainesville, I traveled extensively throughout the US. Along with a lot of stories, I gained a deep appreciation for historic preservation, particularly its aspects in materials conservation and archival management.
Historic cemeteries are my passion. I have volunteered and worked in cemeteries in Oregon, Utah, Colorado and Louisiana. From this interest and through work with the National Park Service at Mesa Verde and Zion National Parks, I was exposed to the professional realm of cemetery preservationists who helped me understand what was necessary to develop a career in the field. The MSHP program has been an invaluable venue through which I have been able to do just that.
My thesis will address Lafayette Cemetery Number 1 of New Orleans, Louisiana, (established 1833) and how it was developed by historic craftsmen. With this information, I hope to shed light on historic tomb construction in the city and how to preserve the delicate historic fabric of its iconic cemeteries.
Julianne Johnson
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Originally from Winter Park, Florida, I moved to Charleston by way of Blacksburg, Virginia where I graduated with a BA in Art History in 2009. My focus of interest in undergrad was primarily architectural history. To further this interest I interned with the Historic Smithfield Plantation House as well as the Blacksburg Museum where I assisted with grant work, collections management, and research. Both of these experiences solidified my desire to purse a Masters in Historic Preservation. After visiting a few other schools I made the easy decision to only apply to the Clemson/College of Charleston program, which had the hands-on fieldwork emphasis I was looking for. The first week of classes has already drawn my attention to various aspects of historic preservation but I am primarily interested in topics dealing with the future of historic preservation on a global scale. My dream career would be working with the UNESCO World Heritage Center.
My thesis will compare the long-term market behavior of easement encumbered properties on the Charleston peninsula in relation to fair market value trends.
Pamela Kendrick
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology & Construction Management, Old Dominion University
I grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia where I developed a love for historic architecture at a very early age. After graduating from Old Dominion University I moved to Biloxi, Mississippi where I worked as a Civil Engineering Associate and Construction Inspector for two years. My love for my hometown in combination with my undergraduate studies and work experience in the fields of construction and engineering helped me to realize that my real passion is in historic building technology. Studying historic preservation in Charleston has been a dream of mine since high school and I’m excited to be living out that dream!
My thesis topic will aim to uncover the design, implementation, and evolution of the truss roof system in Charleston, SC.
Wendy Madill
Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies and Political Theory, Oglethorpe University
As a metro-Atlanta native, I grew up watching the demolition of a fair share of my neighborhood’s historic landscapes and structures. My family’s property was sold and flattened into a neighborhood of McMansions, and even the beautiful 19th century theater where I performed in school plays was demolished because it “had asbestos.” Seeing my community’s gross mismanagement of the suburban development process got me interested in politics. After graduating from Oglethorpe University with a degree in politics and Classical Studies in 2008, I worked at a large commercial architecture firm. There I discovered the discipline of historic preservation. It’s a perfect mix of architecture, history, planning, and politics. I’m excited to study preservation here in Charleston, and I look forward to learning more about how individual communities can protect their heritage from the threats of sprawl and unchecked redevelopment.
My thesis will be a case study of how Charleston-area house museums showcase and explain their obsolete hardware systems to the public. Specifically, I'm researching mechanical house bell systems (the historic precursor to modern doorbells, telephones, and house intercom systems). I hope my studies will shed light on the art and science of the bellhanging trade in historic Charleston.
Neale Nickels
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science, University of Virginia
I didn’t see preservation coming, even though it was right in front of my eyes. I always knew that I loved history – of people, places, and buildings – and I have always thoroughly enjoyed working with my hands: building, creating, and searching for what makes things work and what makes them fail. Add to that a longing to understand why folks of my grandparents’ generation always say “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to,” and that’s a very condensed explanation of why I’m here.
I was born and raised in Orange, Virginia, outside of Charlottesville. Later, I received my BA in Environmental Science from The University of Virginia. During my time there I served the citizens of Albemarle County as a volunteer firefighter with Seminole Trail Vol. Fire Department, continuing the service that I began in Orange as a teenager.
One year in to the MSHP program and I have really found my stride in a place where I am challenged academically, offered chances to grow professionally, and personally enriched. My thesis topic stems from a great opportunity that I have had working as a carpenter for Richard Marks Restorations here in Charleston. Medway Plantation is undergoing a major restoration project, which has given us a chance to see it in a way that it has not been seen in ages. To further contribute to research that has been done on Medway I am planning to complete a historic structures report on the house, which I believe will help answer many questions about its architectural development.
Rebecca Quandt
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, University of Washington
It was when I was running through the streets of Philadelphia and LA during my first two marathons (and yes... they will be my last) that I realized the passion I had for urban planning and geography. I decided to major in Urban Studies and GIS at the University of Washington. Growing up in a small town in Kansas and moving to the Seattle area only confirmed my desire to study city development. I have held internships in numerous city municipalities; working in current and long range planning, green streets and mixed-use centers designing, as well as planning and development. Utilizing my skills in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Modeling has encouraged me to take my mapping capabilities one step further and obtain a Master's degree in Historic Preservation. I am very interested in preservation-based community development and I can only hope that the research and work I complete while studying in Charleston will make an impact on the rest of the country.
My thesis research will focus on preservation-based community development on the Upper Charleston Peninsula. By combining community members hand drawn mental maps with the prioritization of utilizing pre-existing resources in the built environment, I hope to preserve a neighborhoods ‘sense of community’.
Mary Margaret Schley
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, University of Georgia
I grew up on a farm right outside of Columbus, GA in a nineteenth century house my father and his friends restored. I think my love for this house and my father stimulated my interest in preserving old buildings at an early age. I attended the University of Georgia for undergrad where I got my degree in Art History. My favorite art history classes were always those that incorporated architecture. By the end of my undergraduate experience, I was anxious to work in a more “hands-on” field where I could apply my knowledge to my every-day environment. The Clemson/College of Charleston Historic Preservation program was perfect for me in that regard because we are actively learning and working within the community of Charleston. And what better place is there to study old buildings than Charleston?!
For my thesis, I am exploring the history and identity of the Charleston chamber of the United Order of Tents, a female, African-American secret society that has served the community for nearly a century. This summer the benevolent society was expelled from their meeting house located at 73 Cannon Street due to a city enforced public nuisances code. This eviction has brought in to question the groups connection to the building, property, and neighborhood they have inhabited for sixty years. The research question I seek to answer this year is: what is the historical and social identity of the United Order of Tents in Charleston and is this organization's identity linked to the building, property, or neighborhood of 73 Cannon Street?Liz Shaw
Bachelors of Science in Interior Design, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
Originally from Shelbyville, IL, I just recently graduated from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale with a B.S. in Interior Design in May 2011. I first became interested in preservation in high school while volunteering in the restoration of the historic single-screened movie theatre in my hometown and then, a few years later, researching and petitioning to save the endangered Chautauqua Auditorium, also in my hometown. I decided to study Interior Design during my undergrad because adaptive reuse has always been a primary interest of mine. The Clemson University/College of Charleston program was an obvious choice for me to pursue my interest in historic preservation and I enjoy the hands-on approach and living and learning in this beautiful city.
My thesis will involve creating a set of guidelines for the successful adaptive reuse of kitchen and carriage houses.
Karl P Sondermann
Bachelor of Arts in History, Wake Forest University
I am a military brat who grew up mostly in the historically rich and suburban sprawl of Northern Virginia. I graduated from Wake Forest University (GO DEACS!) in 2003 with a BA in History and was commissioned a second lieutenant into the US Army. For the past eight years, I have served in multiple stateside installations (Ft Knox, KY; Ft Lee, VA; Ft Campbell, KY) as an Armor and Quartermaster Officer. Also, I have been privileged to lead Soldiers during overseas assignments in Germany, Iraq and most recently in Afghanistan. Recently I was awarded the US Army Advance Civil School Graduate Study Award, which allows me to attend the Clemson University/College of Charleston Historic Preservation Master’s Program while still serving in the US Army. While serving my country and visiting foreign lands, I observed first-hand how numerous cultures had positive and negative effects on their historically important sites. My desire for this program is to broaden my knowledge of historic preservation and learn how to ensure that Americans always have the opportunity to visit their cultural landmarks, especially battlefields and early American historical sites.
My thesis topic is how to preserve the legacy of a 20th century US Coastal Defense Landscape: Fort Moultrie Military Reservation, Sullivan Island, South Carolina (1895-1948): How does an understanding of the progression of these types of military landscapes facilitate their historic preservation?
Julia Tew
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Western Carolina University
I was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since childhood I’ve had a passion for houses. I have been able to tour many historic towns and plantations throughout the southeast and I have grown to love southern architecture. After taking architectural drafting classes in high school I realized architecture wasn’t for me; instead I would pursue construction. Being more of a hands-on person this seemed like a more suitable direction. I had a wonderful 4 years in the mountains attending WCU and construction seemed to be a really good fit. After graduation I worked in industrial construction for a year and a half followed by a job in commercial landscaping. During these four years all I could think about were houses, but I became increasingly disappointed by current industry standards. Last year I finally put my love of houses and history together when I came across this program and it all clicked from there. I am excited to begin working toward a career in the preservation and restoration of historic structures.
The thesis topic I will be pursuing this year is the history of the stew stove and its architectural and cultural impact on the Aiken Rhett property.
Amy Elizabeth Uebel
Bachelor of Arts in History, Washington College
Though I grew up in the Mid-West I spent the last four years living in Mystic, Connecticut where I worked as an educator for the overnight programs at the Mystic Seaport Museum. I have always been interested in architecture and preservation, but it was not until I began working with the shipwrights and the historic ships at the museum that I realized that historic preservation was the field I wanted to pursue. I stopped teaching history and enrolled with Clemson University/College of Charleston Masters in Historic Preservation in hopes to protect and conserve buildings that are a part of our history. I hope to work in architectural conservation in the future and focus on metal conservation.
My thesis involves examining the different aspects of iron corrosion on the historic iron work at Fort Sumter, and quantifying the role that the environment, context, and composition has on the conservation of metal.
Daniel Watts
Bachelor of Arts in Public and Urban Affairs, Virginia Tech
I grew up in Roanoke, VA and studied urban planning at Virginia Tech. Post-graduation I moved west and worked for a small city in rural Oregon on the creation of downtown and economic redevelopment master plans. In 2006, I moved back east to Boston, MA and worked as a transportation planner specializing in pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Five years later I decided to pursue a master's degree in historic preservation as the best way to combine varied interests and past professional experiences in urban design and planning, development, sustainability and the maintenance of a sense of place through the preservation and rehabilitation of older structures.
After developing a broad understanding of the field of preservation during the program's first year I plan on dedicating my second year to learning about the effectiveness of tax incentive programs in historic building rehabilitation projects. Accordingly, my thesis will focus on the impact of North Carolina's Mill Rehabilitation Tax Credit since the incentive's creation on 2006.
Class of 2014
Kendy Altizer
Bachelor of Arts in History, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of Texas-Arlington
I grew up in a series of small towns on the coast of Texas; my dad was a minister and we moved every couple of years. One of the first questions I was always asked at the beginning of every ecclesiastical tour of duty was, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” My answer was always, “I want to dig in the dirt”. From the time I was three, you could find me in the front or backyard of whatever house we were living in at the time, digging holes, trying to find cool stuff.
After graduating from college with a double degree in History and Anthropology, I spent a number of years working in Cultural Resource Management in a variety of capacities in several different states. My focus was prehistoric archaeology and I spent many a happy day out on survey in remote areas of the United States documenting prehistoric and historic resources. I eventually began spending more and more time in the office writing reports and learning the business side of Cultural Resource Management. While I enjoyed the consulting aspect of archaeology, I found myself wanting a different challenge but I wasn’t really sure what that challenge might entail. During a vacation to the southeast in 2011, I had an epiphany while taking a tour at Drayton Hall. I was so inspired by the grounds and the building itself that I began to see historic preservation in a completely different way than my previous experience had allowed. Less than a year later, here I am in the Graduate Program for Historic Preservation in beautiful Charleston.
My focus in this program is the rehabilitation, conservation, and restoration of historic buildings and I hope to apply what I have learned in the program to archaeology as well.
Kavan Argue
Bachelor of Design in Architecture, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
I grew up in the small town of Jefferson, WI. Ever since I was younger I have had an interest in anything that had to do with architecture. I think all of the trips I took when I was younger to Europe and Central America really showed me how many ways one could look at and interpret something as simple as the basic necessity for shelter.
This ultimately led me to pursuing my undergraduate degree in architecture with a minor in geography. As I was going through my studies in Minnesota and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with architecture I found historic preservation. It was a perfect fit. I could continue my love of architecture in a way that incorporated my analytical thinking and documentation/research skills. I am very excited for the next two years here at the Clemson University MSHP program-- and everything that is to come.
Megan Funk
Bachelor of Business Administration & Marketing, University of Kentucky
As an undergraduate student at UK, I dabbled in a few majors. My first choice, rather my parent’s first choice, was pre-pharmacy, but, although good at math and science, nothing about the major sparked my interest. My loves were creativity, art, design and the constant newness that comes from those fields. I also loved old structures and exploring forgotten spaces like my great grandmother’s farm house, still full of old trunks, dressers and hatboxes. The contents of these spaces had always intrigued me and made me curious to know more about how people had once lived. Combining those two loves I switched my major to interior design and planned to do a focus in historic preservation. My coursework there exposed me to even more aspects of the built environment, including issues of sustainability and re-use. Through other events, I actually ended up with a marketing degree, but what I had learned from my interior design classes and projects stuck with me. I watched as the downtown area of Lexington went through many changes, some of which promoted preservation and some of which ignored it altogether. After a year of working in various fields, I knew I wanted a more focused path and even more than that, I knew I wanted to work with preservation and be a part of the way in which it shapes and preserves the identity of places.
Kelly Herrick
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Bachelor of Arts in History, Elon University
Originally from Morganton, NC, I recently graduated from Elon University with degrees in English Literature and History. I have always been fascinated by both the Victorian and Edwardian Periods in England and spent most of my undergraduate career in a relationship with Victorian literature and culture. Although I originally planned to pursue an advanced degree in literature, a semester I spent abroad in England caused me to change my mind. In England, I discovered that I had a desire to preserve and interact with history in a more direct manner than pure archival research. While abroad I also became enamored with the architecture of Europe, and I found myself taking multiple photos of various buildings and structures. Upon my return to America, I discovered that obtaining a graduate degree in Historic Preservation would not only allow me to preserve historical structures, but would also allow me to participate in a more hands-on form of history. Eventually, I hope to find a way to combine and celebrate my love of architecture, cultural history, travel, and perhaps even Victorian poetry!
Lindsay Lanois
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, The University of the South
I grew up in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Maryville, Tennessee, where I was lucky to experience one awesome aspect of the National Park Service -- the parks themselves! After studying art history in another set of mountains at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, I spent two years baking in various restaurants. I'm excited to turn my attention to something new, and the Clemson/College of Charleston program provides a great opportunity to turn my appreciation for great architecture and landscapes into a hands-on field of research and practice. Preservation fascinates me due to its countless influences, components, and applications in the world, and I'm so excited to delve deeper into all these elements over the next two years. Outside of school, I enjoy yoga, hiking, and baking all the time. Though I'm certain my academic thoughts will evolve (and maybe condense!) as the program continues, I currently find myself interested in public policy, education programs, rural vernacular architecture, and preservation within the National Parks.
Lindsay Lee
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Rutgers University
Born and raised in a small historic New Jersey town, it seemed natural that I end up on the path of preservation. My grandmother grew up, and later my mom and aunts, in a three story Victorian in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. For years I rummaged through the closets, and pried open cabinets racked with anticipation for what I might find. Equally so, our family vacations without fail, almost always involved a stop at a historic house museum or Landmark, which I loved.
When it came time for college, I was positive that I wanted to take the track of architecture, and rebuild these structures from my memories that I loved so much. However, with a last minute decision, and an admittance that math is by far my worst subject, I instead found myself on the path to preservation. I graduated from Rutgers University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History, a minor in Anthropology and a Certificate in Historic Preservation. While my degree required I take an array of classes, I took advantage and thrived off of every historic architecture class available.
After two internships and 6 months of studying everything there was to offer in Florence, Italy, I was lucky enough to get a job working as an archaeologist for a Cultural Resource Management firm immediately following graduation. Based out of Trenton, New Jersey I was able to really get a feel for the archaeological aspect of preservation, spending two years outside digging in the field and doing both graphic work and report production. While I loved my job I always knew that grad school and building preservation were out there waiting for me. I have a serious passion for the American City and believe New York is the most magical place on Earth, but I really look forward to immersing myself in the different but exciting preservation scene in the South and Charleston in particular. Overall I’m just the curious kind of person who can’t just look at an old structure from the outside without wanting to sneak around and see what kind of bones, and secrets, it’s hiding inside.
Valerie McCluskey
Bachelor of Arts in History, Bachelor of Arts in Scandinavian Studies, Gustavus Adolphus College
Although I am most recently from Minneapolis, MN, I grew up in Chicago, IL, and developed an appreciation for architecture at an early age, as my parents, both civil engineers, took me to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio time and time again.
I had always loved history, and loved the built structures left behind by previous generations. In college, I spent time abroad living and traveling around Sweden, and have a special place in my heart for the simplistic yet expressive architecture of Swedish religious buildings. Upon graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College in southern Minnesota in 2011, I interned and was then hired at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. In the fall of 2011, I finally realized that I could marry my love of history with my appreciation for architecture when the Museum was chosen to participate in the National Trust’s Partners in Preservation program. I’d like to keep an open mind in terms of the future, but would love to work on the advocacy side of preservation again, or further my academic career in architectural history. At the moment, I am just happy to be in such a historic and significant city as Charleston.
Brittany McKee
Bachelor of Arts in History, College of Charleston
I graduated from the College of Charleston in May of 2011 with a degree in History and a minor in Historic Preservation and Community Planning. I have always had an interest in history that stems from the many history-centered vacations my family went on while I was a child. I discovered Historic Preservation late in my college career but fell in love with the field while taking a class on the documentation of historic properties. While at the College of Charleston I interned with the Historic Charleston Foundation where I primarily assisted with inspections of the foundation’s easement properties. In the fall of 2011 I began a planning program at Clemson University and while I loved my experience there it made me see that my true interests were in historic preservation and architectural history. I would like to combine my interest in both planning and preservation in my future career. I am thrilled to be back in Charleston and a part of the program!
Erin Morton
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and History, NC State University
I grew up in the small town of China Grove, North Carolina in the western piedmont. I graduated from N.C. State (Go Pack!) in 2011 with degrees in Bioarchaeology and History. During that time, I went on my first dig to Thailand and realized that, for all practical purposes, I would never be able to devote a career to the physical pains and demands of archaeology. Sifting through dirt all day helped me to realize that instead of recovering lost remains from the ground, I should take on the task of preventing structures from entering into the archaeological record at all. Knowing since high school that any work I wanted to do would require a Master’s degree, I joined up with the Clemson/College of Charleston program in Historic Preservation. I’ll be using this next year to hone in on just how I want to use the degree, but in addition to the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, I am eyeing the National Park Service and the global aspect of historic preservation existing in the UNESCO World Heritage Center.
Melissa Roach
Bachelor of Arts in History, College of the Ozarks
I grew up in Springdale, Arkansas, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Business Administration from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. I love the Arkansas Razorbacks, coffee, the St. Louis Cardinals, history, Italy, the Netherlands, reading, traveling, and World War II veterans. I am fascinated by Historic Preservation because I can study people’s interaction with their surroundings and in return, how those relationships affect cultural heritage. I am a major nerd who loves research, and I hope to work either as an architectural historian or in an educational setting, teaching children with hands-on history.
Leigh Schoberth
Bachelor of Arts in Art History, University of Michigan
I believe it was my hometown that inspired my decisions to study Historic Preservation. Growing up in a community that prides itself on the preservation of its historic homes granted me an early exposure to the importance of conserving a community’s heritage. It was in my hometown that I had the chance to witness my first restoration project, a historic theater. Part of the restoration was a process to uncover the original colors that illuminated the sculptural reliefs that adorned the walls. Upon its completion the interior space was transformed from the monochrome that I had grown used to seeing into a space vibrant with color. Through travel I was able to visit numerous historic sites, increasing my passion for historic architecture.
My undergraduate studies began in architecture, but my love of history began to shape my interests, leading to my transfer to History of Art. By the end of my undergraduate studies, I knew that I wanted to bring these fields together by continuing my education in Historic preservation.
Katherine M. C. Schultheis
Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation and Community Planning, College of Charleston
Originally from Morristown, NJ, I came to Charleston in 2004 to obtain a BA in Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the College of Charleston. My undergraduate studies culminated with an independent study on architecture in nineteenth century literature and a thesis assessing the theories of architectural critic Andrew Jackson Downing under the direction of Ralph C. Muldrow.
While still in school, I began working at the Preservation Society of Charleston as an intern in 2006 and stayed on as a staff member, first working in the retail shop, then after graduation as Administrative Assistant, and finally as Finance and Board Relations Manager, a position in which I gained vital non-profit accounting and business experience. My work at the Society also involved writing articles for their magazine, Preservation Progress, researching historic properties, taking architectural photos for tours and surveys, and planning a tour of Magnolia, Bethany, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, and other surrounding cemeteries. Along with working at the Society, I assisted Dr. Robert Russell in various cemetery conservation projects throughout St. John's Lutheran, the Unitarian, and St. Michael's churchyards. After six years with the Preservation Society, I am looking forward to beginning my graduate work in Historic Preservation in Charleston. I will continue to be a part of the Society's LowcoMOD Steering Committee, an advocacy and education group for local mid-twentieth century architecture, and will be joining the Society's Publications Committee as well.
My main areas of interest are the evolution of architecture and urban reform from the nineteenth to twentieth century, the writings of critics A. J. Downing and John Ruskin, cemetery history and conservation, the architecture of Louis Sullivan and Julia Morgan, and the work of Edward C. Jones, Francis D. Lee, and Edward Brickell White in Charleston. I am also fascinated by the developments in psychoanalysis during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the subsequent evolution of the design, construction, and deterioration of mental asylums throughout America, particularly those influenced by Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride.
Will Smith
Bachelor of Arts in History, Virginia Tech
I grew up in Richlands, Virginia in Southwest Virginia. I received my undergraduate degree in History from Virginia Tech. I became interested in preservation when I was in middle school. I attribute most of this interest to the trips my family took to historic sites and museums. After high school I attended Virginia Tech and majored in history. While in Blacksburg, I helped put together a walking tour of the campus. After I graduated, I took a year off and among other things worked as a collections intern at a small regional museum. While interning I rekindled my passion for preservation. I realized that I wanted to have a more active role in the preservation community. The active role that the Clemson/College of Charleston MSHP program takes in the community fits that desire.