Sarah grew up in both North and South Carolina with familial ties to the Appalachia region. After completing a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Cognitive Studies at Tulane University, she went on to work for several years in hospitality, tourism, museums, nonprofits, and events. Once it became evident that her interests lay in nonprofits and public history she began to consider a return to education. This consideration was solidified into a decision after finding herself at a nonprofit she loved but a position she did not. In order to avoid multiple years of event management in order to attain a more desirable position, Sarah opted to apply to the Public History program at Appalachian State.
The jobs Sarah held that led her to the realization that public history was her career of choice included: Hearse Ghost Tour guide, Musk Ox Farm tour guide, historical interpreter and gift shop buyer at a maritime museum, general manager of a historic bed and breakfast, and, finally, events manager at the same maritime museum. Once accepted by the program, Sarah worked for a season on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger. Appalachian State was the only program she applied to with the goal of living in the mountains and cooling off after eight years in the swelteringly hot and humid historic district of Savannah.
Since beginning the program, Sarah's interests have shifted from Museum Studies to Historic Preservation. Sarah is also undertaking courses to attain a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Administration to supplement her master's degree in Public History. Sarah was fortunate to have obtained a summer internship working remotely for PlaceEconomics, a firm that focuses on the intersection of economics and historic preservation practices. She hopes to one day apply her education and work experience to a small nonprofit in a remote mountain town and to never again be subjected to 100+ degree heat, wedding facilitation, or highfalutin' city life.
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