What are you doing here?

Hello!
For my second-ever entry here on this blog, I thought I'd write about something I get asked frequently by a variety of people, when they learn both my field of study and what my graduate assistantship is.

First, I am in the school psychology program here at William and Mary. School psychology isn't school counseling, but that's kind of close. It is a student service, but more instructional/academic/I won't be using a couch and Freudian techniques (not that school counselors do that, of course). Real quick, school psychologists pretty much tackle everything in schools, primarily educational and cognitive testing, behavior plans, classroom placement, academic interventions, special education interventions etc. The profession itself can vary from county to county, school to school.

So, the question I get asked a lot is "What is a (future) school psychologist doing working in an art museum?"
The quick answer: pretty much anything and everything.

While art, art history and museum were brand new to me when I came to graduate school, I was ready for a challenge, for something new. Here at the museum, I lend my knowledge of education to exhibition openings, school outreach, developmentally appropriate materials, student art classes etc. I get to work with students of all ages and abilities, while stretching my own creative legs. I get to jump on research topics and projects, and will hopefully be learning grant writing. For a graduate assistantship, that's not half-bad. (Sure beats PDFing whole books and data entry all day!)

Within the past year, and I can imagine within this coming year, I have been given the opportunity to jump on so many projects and experiences... I'm going to have one interesting and packed curriculum vitae when I interview for internship positions next Spring!
So, it seems the real question should be "Why aren't there more future school psychologists working in art museums?"

~Kathryn

Education, Ice Cream, and Frisbees

Unfortunately readers, None of us DEN-dwellers has been able to post a blog in quite some time. But rest assured, the DEN is functioning smoothly.
We've been gearing up for the return of students and Faculty, and encouraging them to utilize the Muscarelle for all their education needs. Ideally, we want the Muscarelle to serve as sortof a lab for art and art history students in particular, and actually all students. Art can be correlated to all sorts of topics and fields of study, so hopefully we will have each and every major stopping by.

And, speaking of stopping by, don't forget that August 28th we're going to have free Ice Cream (so generously provided by Baskin Robbins) and Frisbees, featuring our fabulous new logo from 5:00 to 7:00 pm right outside the Muscarelle.

Mixin' it up

The beginning of classes here at The College is fast approaching, but even before that is Freshmen Orientation. Here at W&M, we don't just do a quick weekend introduction. Instead orientation is an intense (but fun and exciting) week-long affair. As someone who has experienced orientation first hand, I can say that mixers with other freshmen halls was a fun break from all the scary, official parts filled with paperwork.

Here in the DEN we want to introduce freshmen to the Muscarelle early, and educate them all about the museum. That's why we've designed several mixers for OA's (thats Orientation Aides) to choose from. Hopefully, starting the 22nd, we'll have freshmen in here doing arts and crafts and completing scavenger hunts, all the while socializing and mixing with their fellow students. Maybe they will love the museum so much after the mixers that we'll have dozens new interns! That's a stretch, but maybe we can get them to come to future Muscarelle events and exhibitions?

Here's hoping
Caitlin

From the Desk of Dr. Gorman

Of course I need no introductions, but just for those not yet in the know, this is Amy, Curator of Education and New Media at the Muscarelle, and current warden of the DENmates. This summer has been a whirlwind of projects on exhibitions, education, research, marketing and development, all gearing up for our Extreme Exploration exhibitions including Beyond the Edge of the Sea: Diversity of Life, Celestial Images, and Underwater Photography by Dennis Libberson.
As we come to a close of the summer, I have to say thank you for the incredible work everyone has contributed to the DEN this season; Kathryn, Rusty, Paula, Megan, Sara G, Sarah W, Caitlin, Ansley, Jen, Christina, and Dave.

Amy