CHUCALISSA the University of Memphis

C.H. Nash Museum CHUCALISSA The University of Memphis

2015 - GRADUATE ASSISTANT IMPACT STATEMENT

OUR MISSION

The mission of the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa, a division of The University of Memphis, is to protect and interpret the Chucalissa archaeological site’s cultural and natural environments, and to provide the University Community and the public with exceptional educational, participatory, and research opportunities on the landscape’s past and present Native American and traditional cultures.

20,000 + HOURS OF GRADUATE ASSISTANT SERVICE SINCE 2007 • More than 6,400 hours best practices curation of U of M archaeological collections. • More than 6,000 hours of direct visitor engagement and program delivery. • More than 4,000 hours of exhibit, program, and other product development. • More than 4,000 hours of training and operation in Museum best practices.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT EXHIBIT & PROGRAM CREATION • Create Hands-on Archaeology Lab. • Update, redesign, and create multiple Main Hall exhibits. • Create Choctaw Cultural Heritage Banners. • Create more than 20 educational programs that meet State Curriculum Standards.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT WORK ON THE CHUCALISSA SITE COMPLEX THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT DESIGN IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT: • Floristic inventory of 300 species • Ghost house on platform mound. along Chucalissa Nature Trail. • 3 rain shelters on nature trail. • Create and maintain multiple Native • Community service learning activity American, Urban, Herb and traditional center pergola. plant gardens. • Create Landscape Literacy model of “Every • Create guide to arboretum, nature exhibits across 40 acre site complex. semester I am trail, and medicinal plant sanctuary. at Chucalissa, I watch my resume bulk up C.H. NASH MUSEUM GRADUATE ASSISTANTS . . . more and more • Are integral to the school group and general public engagement at the Museum. . . . (from) the • Are active participants in the learning laboratory that is the Chucalissa site complex. opportunities • Have applied experiences in best practices of museum operation. offered to me “ • Broker that engagement and experience for employment upon graduation.

1987 Indian Village Drive, Memphis, TN 38109 • (901) 785-3160 • www.memphis.edu/chucalissa C.H. Nash Museum CHUCALISSA The University of Memphis

GRADUATE ASSISTANT IMPACT STATEMENT

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS 2007 - 2014

Year Graduate Department Current or Most Recently Known Position Assistant 2007 - 2008 Josh Gorman History Collections Manager, Smithsonian Anacostia Museum 2007 - 2008 Catherine Hammons Earth Sciences Teacher, Lausanne Collegiate School, Memphis 2007 - 2008 Deshonna Lewis Anthropology - 2008 - 2010 Dustin James Anthropology Executive Director, Midsouth AIDS Fund 2008 Chris Cosby Anthropology Senior Manager of Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden 2008 - 2010 Samantha Gibbs Anthropology Special Education, Shclby County Schools 2008 - 2009 Jennifer Graham Anthropology Director, Community/Economic Dev. Pascagoula 2008-2009 Christine DuMars Art History Instructor, Florida State College, Jacksonville 2009 - 2011 Natalye Tate Anthropology PhD Fellowship, University of Illinois at UC 2009 - 2010 Katie Stringer History Executive Director, Blount Mansion, Knoxville 2010 - 2012 Curtis McCoy Earth Sciences Archaeologist, Dovetail Cultural Resource, Virginia 2010 - 2011 Lauren Huber Art History Membership Coordinator, IFMA, Houston 2010 - 2012 LaKenya Smith Anthropology Program Manager, Shelby Vocational and Rehab 2010 - 2012 Megan Keener Anthropology Educator, Brevard Zoo, Florida 2011 - 2013 Mallory Bader Anthropology Instructor, Pink Palace Museum, Memphis 2012 - 2014 Brooke Mundy Art History Registrar, Morton Museum, Collierville, TN 2012 - 2014 Patricia Harris University College Development Officer, USS Constitutuion Museum, MA 2013 Allison Hennie Museum Studies Current PhD Student, Earth Sciences 2013 - 2014 Carolyn Trimble Anthropology - 2014 - 2016 Elizabeth Cruzado Earth Sciences Current Graduate Assistant 2014 - 2016 Colleen McCartney Anthropology Current Graduate Assistant 2014 - 2016 Nur Abdalla Anthropology Current Graduate Assistant 2014 - 2016 Brooke Garcia Art History Current Graduate Assistant

CHUCALISSA GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

• Eighty-two percent enrolled/graduates of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program (100% since 2010). • All Chucalissa Graduate Assistants are encouraged to participate and network at professional meetings (9 scholarship awards in past 3 years) and all have presented at professional meetings during their tenure at Chucalissa. • Collectively, five Chucalissa Graduate Assistants published peer-reviewed articles during their tenure at the Museum. • Use their Graduate Assistantship as an opportunity to add substantial experience and products to their resumes. • Have a high rate of employment in their chosen field upon graduation.

1987 Indian Village Drive, Memphis, TN 38109 • (901) 785-3160 • www.memphis.edu/chucalissa