The full and part-time faculty at Appalachian State University are professionals in a multitude of fields within historical practice and bring diverse experiences to the department. Get to know your Public History Professors a little better by reading through their responses to this brief questionnaire. If you have any further questions, feel free to send them an email at the addresses provided in their linked faculty directory listing.
Dr. Andrea Burns
Educational Background / Career History?
I received my B.A. in History (with concentrations in art history and anthropology) from Michigan State University and my Ph.D. in History from the University of Minnesota. After living in Wilmington, Delaware and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, I moved to Boone in July 2009 to begin my career at ASU.
Area of Study / Professional Interest?
I am interested in the politics of display and representation within public history, and how people remember the past. My book, From Storefront to Monument: Tracing the Public History of the Black Museum Movement, (University of Massachusetts Press, 2013) explores the origins and radical politics of African American museums that were founded during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.
Courses taught in the past?
I have taught Public History Practicum; Special Topics in Applied and Public History; Introduction to Public History, Senior Seminar (HIS 4100); Museum Education; Interpretation in Museums; Studies in Material Culture; Museum Management.
Favorite thing about teaching?
I enjoy guiding student public history projects, and watching how the projects (and the students!) evolve from tentative beginnings, to final, confident presentations.
Advice for current / future students?
Internships are crucial for both undergraduates and graduate students in order to get a sense of what you want to do (and not do) within the field. Once you have secured an internship, your goal is to make yourself indispensable to that organization--and to get to know as many people within the field as possible.
Where do you enjoy history in Boone?
Boone and the surrounding areas are filled with beautiful historic sites and landscapes. Few activities are more peaceful than hiking along the trails by Moses Cone's Flat Top Manor, or standing on a precipice along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and watching the mountains and clouds.
What does Public History mean to you?
As public historians, we analyze and reflect upon how people remember and interpret history, and we must work to make history--whether that means historic buildings, landscapes, museum exhibits, or archives--accessible to diverse audiences.
Dr. Kristen Deathridge
Educational Background / Career History?
I earned an MA in Archaeology from the University of Reading (UK) in 2005, and completed my PhD in Public History at Middle Tennessee State University in 2012. My research currently focuses on the adaptive reuse of religious buildings. I moved to Boone during the Summer of 2013. 
Area of Study / Professional Interest?
Historic Preservation, 20th Century American Cultural and Intellectual Thought, Archaeology & Material Culture Studies
Courses taught in the past?
History and Culture (History and Film), Introduction to Public History, Philosophy of Historic Preservation
Favorite thing about teaching?
Helping students to become professionals.
Advice for current / future students?
Work hard on developing your skills and following the questions that interest you. Talk to the people who have jobs that you think you might want, both locals and those met at conferences. Find out what has been successful for them and what has not worked so well.
Where do you enjoy history in Boone?
It may sound trite, but I love to find history in unexpected places, no matter where I am.
What does Public History mean to you?
Beyond sharing history with different audiences, one of the most rewarding aspects of this work is using public history skills to help communities tell the stories that are important to them, especially those which highlight unique perspectives and local cultural identity.
Dr. Elizabeth Perego
Currently an Assistant Professor, Dr. Perego is a cultural historian of the modern Middle East and Africa. She teaches Oral History for public history classes.
Full Public History Profile coming soon.
Dr. Raja Rahim
Currently an Assistant Professor, Dr. Rahim is a social and cultural historian whose research focuses in U.S. History, African American History, and the African Diaspora. She also focuses on Sport History, Oral History, Public History, and Digital Humanities. She teaches oral history, Afro-Atlantic Material Culture, and more in public history.
Full Public History Profile coming soon.
Mr. Trent Margrif
Mr. Margrif is a historic preservationist who has taught a variety of courses, such as Museum Management and Grant Writing in the pubic history degree programs.
Full Public History Profile coming soon.