BY DANIELLE THOMAS

Hi there!

My name is Danielle Thomas and I am a recent graduate of the Museum Studies Master’s program at IUPUI – soon to be IU Indianapolis. I am from Peru, IN originally. I moved to Muncie after high school to attend Ball State University where I graduated with my Bachelor’s in History with a Public History concentration. I have loved history and museums since I was a child. Once I learned in undergrad that you could major in Museum Studies? I was sold. After the pandemic, I applied to graduate school which is how I ended up where I am today. During the last two years I have learned so much and have had the most amazing experience that I believe have helped me become a well-rounded museum professional who is prepared and excited to enter the field. 

During my time in this program, my area of interest has been collections. With classes such as Collections Care and Management and Preventive Conservation, I have learned about the care of collections, both physically and ethically. My goal, however, is to become a well-rounded museum professional, with classes such as Museum Administration and Museum Education. These classes have helped me gain that knowledge in various aspects of the museum world.  

I’ve had many amazing experiences in the last two years, some of them once in a lifetime. I visited the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways in Michigan in the spring of 2023 with my Community Collaboration and Curation class where we helped the center maintain their exhibits, catalog objects, and learn more about the tribe in the process. This was a truly amazing experience that I wish I could do all over again. I was fortunate to be a Community Engagement Associate (CEA) for Dr. Holly Cusack-McVeigh in the Museum Studies program where I served as a TA for her Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Collections Care and Management classes. Additionally, I was a research assistant on various projects such as the Toxic Heritage project at the Indiana Medical History Museum. 

While I am sad to leave this program and all of my amazing classmates, I am so excited to finally enter the museum world and make a difference in my future institution. I encourage you to visit my ePortfolio site to learn more about my experiences in this program and how I hope to contribute to the museum field! 

 Full Portfolio Link: https://daniellethomas683.wixsite.com/my-site-1

Danielle Thomas (she/her) earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies in May 2024 from Indiana University Indianapolis.