Participants in the August 2017 Certified Interpretive Guide training, including Dr. Katherine Jellison (first from the left in the first row), History alumnus Cyrus Moore (first from the right in the first row), and Dr. Sarah Kinkel (second from the left in the second row).
Dr. Katherine Jellison, Chair and Professor of History, and Dr. Sarah Kinkel, Assistant Professor of History, recently completed a Certified Interpretive Guide training module.
They were joined by Ohio University alum Cyrus Moore ’11, who earned his B.A. in History from the College of Arts & Sciences.
The program is intended for individuals seeking volunteer or career opportunities at historical or natural history sites, parks, or museums.
Jellison and Kinkel participated in the four-day training module to experience the program in anticipation of making it regularly available to OHIO students. The training coincided with the start of the Fall 2017 term, in which the History Department recently announced expanded professional advising opportunities for History majors and minors, including those interested in pursuing careers or graduate education in public history and museum studies.
Asked about the importance of undergoing this certification program, Jellison noted that she had in mind being able to testify firsthand to the value of this training for students interested in public history careers.
“The training provides an overview of the types of employment available in that profession,” Jellison explained, “and gives insights into the pleasures and challenges of that kind of work.” Both she and Kinkel added that the training is also useful for anyone wanting to improve their public presentation skills.
“The Certified Interpretative Guide program run by the National Association for Interpretation is a fantastic opportunity for students interested in a variety of career paths,” Kinkel added. “The course is designed to help participants become more confident, persuasive, and engaging public speakers, making it a useful counterpart to the reading, writing, and analytical skills developed in standard history courses.”
To learn more about the Certified Interpretative Guide program, contact Dr. Sarah Kinkel.
For more on the History Department, its academic programs, professional advising, and expanding internship opportunities, visit the History Department internships webpage.
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