Program: MA, United States History w/ Minor in Public History

Email: lobrien1@luc.edu

MA in History with Minor in Public History, Loyola University Chicago, 2014-Present                                                                                                         

BA in Black Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara, 2010- 2014

My research interests are in 20th Century U.S. History with an emphasis in multiracial identity. I am particularly interested in the ways that multiracial individuals negotiate their dual identities amongst binary racial color lines. Furthermore, I would also like to examine the historical representation of mixed race individuals in media and visual art culture that serve to challenge the stigmatization of blackness.

My broader historical interests include Black history, multicultural social justice, women and gender history, education and public history.

Cities of Peace Education Program Assistant, Jane Addams Hull House Museum (August 2015- Present)

Museum Registrar/Collections Intern, Loyola University Museum of Art (May 2015- Present)

Education Intern, Art Institute of Chicago (June 2015- August 2015)

Graduate Assistant, Seizing Opportunities for Academic Resiliency, Department of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, Loyola University of Chicago (May 2015- August 2015)

Education Intern, Jane Addams Hull House Museum (January 2015- May 2015)

Student Curator/User Group Coordinator, University of California at Santa Barbara Multicultural Center (May 2013- June 2014)

Curatorial/Education Intern, Casa Dolores: Center for the Popular Arts of Mexico (August 2013-December 2013)

Curatorial Intern, The Grammy Museum (June 2013- August 2013)

Program Instructor, United Way of Santa Barbara- Fun in the Sun Program (June 2012- August 2012)

Program Instructor, African- American Male Achievers Network, Inc. (June 2011- September 2011) 

Creator, Dr. Harriet Alleyne Rice Alternative Label, Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
October 2015- Present
Writing museum label about the first African-American resident of Hull House for Alternative Labeling Project. The Alternative Labeling Project asks “Can a common museum label—so often the omniscient voice that provides factual evidence that identifies art facts and objects in a museum’s collection—sensually engage us, inspire revolution and reform, or provide pleasure and comfort?” The series explores these questions through its presentation of diverse voices and encourages visitors to view history from a fresh perspective.

Contributor & Researcher, Cities of Peace Curriculum Development Taskforce, Chicago, IL
September 2015- Present
Designing high school curriculum about the history of structural and interpersonal violence and resistance in Chicago and Cambodia. The goal of this inquiry-to-action toolkit is meant to encourage students and teachers to think critically about harm and genocide and foster environments for resistance, transformation and healing in homes, schools and communities. 

Co-Creator, Chicago Humanities Festival Art & Social Justice Tour, Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
October 2015- November 2015
In collaboration with the Chicago Humanities Festival, co-created public tour that highlights Hull House’s history in advocating for greater access to artistic and educational opportunities in order to create a more just and civic environment.

Creator, Public Health Tour, Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
September 2015- November 2015
In collaboration with UIC African-American Cultural Center, designed public tour that explores the intersections of public health, race, gender, and class within Hull House history. Founded in 1889 as a social settlement, Hull-House functioned as a site for organizing, direct service, and advocacy around issues of hygiene, sanitation, occupational health, and reproductive justice.

Co-Creator, Vernacular Architecture Tour, Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
September 2015- October 2015
Co-created architecture tour of the Hull House settlement in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the first of its kind in North America. The Chicago Architecture Biennial provides a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience.

Contributor, Mary Jane Patterson, Biographical Database of Militant Woman Suffragists, 1913-1920
September 2015- October 2015
The editors of Women and Social Movements in the United States invited women's history faculty, students and independent scholars to join a crowdsourcing experiment. Contributed to experiment by writing biographical sketch of Mary Jane Patterson, the first African-American woman to receive her bachelor’s degree.

Researcher, “Look at it this Way,” Online Exhibition, Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
February 2015- April 2015
Assisted with online exhibition by researching featured objects within the museum’s collection. “Look at it this Way” invites artists and educators to collaborate in order to expand traditional ideas of expertise, bringing new knowledge and meaning to artifacts at the museum. 

Interviewer, Anne Coggs Smith, Chicago Area Women’s History Council Oral History Project
October 2014- December 2014
Conducted an interview for the CAWHC Oral History project "Documenting Women's Activism and Leadership in the Chicago Area, 1945-2000." The goal of the project is to provide the first comprehensive survey of significant Chicago area personalities, issues, organizations, actions, institutions, legislative initiatives and cultural innovations that contributed to change during this exciting period in the city's history.

Co-Creator, “Crossroads & Cobblestones: The History of Glenwood Avenue Arts District” 
Rogers Park/ West Ridge Historical Society, Chicago, IL
October 2014- December 2014
Co-created walking tour that shares and celebrates the history of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District located in the Rogers Park/ West Ridge neighborhood.

Curator, “Visions of Love, Respect, & Justice.” UCSB Multicultural Center, Santa Barbara, CA
September 2013-June 2014
Curated and managed collaborative black board project that encouraged students to go beyond imagining change and create solutions for transforming reality. The project allowed students to express their personal visions for a more just future through art, language, and performance.

Research Assistant, Dr. Ingrid Banks and Dr. Gaye T. Johnson, UCSB Black Studies Department, 
Santa Barbara, CA                                                             
June 2013- June 2014
Researched the presence of women of color in the film industry and international film festivals. Other duties included electronically cataloging and organizing data to help build an online film database.

2015-2016         Media Coordinator, History Graduate Student Association, Loyola University Chicago

2015-2016         Master Mentor, Achieving College Excellence, Loyola University Chicago

2015-Present      Intern, Oral History Project, Hyde Park Historical Society

Fall 2015            Moderator, History Graduate Student Association Conference, Loyola University Chicago

Summer 2015     Facilitator, “Whose Streets? Our Streets! Art & Spatial Justice in the Urban Environment” Teacher’s Institute

Fall 2014            Paper Judge, History Graduate Student Association Conference, Loyola University Chicago

2014-2015         Marketing/Publicity Co-Chair, Kaleidoscope, LUCES Women of Color Journal

Fall 2015            Member, LUCES Women of Color Retreat Committee, LUC Department of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs

2012- 2015        Member, Multicultural Center Executive Board, University of California, Santa Barbara

2012- 2015        Co-Chair- Multicultural Center Council, University of California, Santa Barbara

2013- 2014        Co-Founder, United Way Student Club, University of California, Santa Barbara

2013-2014         Co-Chair- Black Graduation, University of California, Santa Barbara

Spring 2013       Coordinator, “Pushing Forward- Social Justice Conference,” UCSB Multicultural Center

2012-2013         Mentor, Dr. Clyde Wood’s Mentorship Program, University of California, Santa Barbara

2012- 2013        Co-Chair, Akanke Black Women’s Organization, University of California, Santa Barbara

2011- 2012        Community Service Chair, Black Student Union, University of California, Santa Barbara

2010- 2011        Freshman Representative, Black Student Union, University of California, Santa Barbara

2015- Present     Phi Alpha Theta

Spring 2015        Leader of LUCES Award, Department of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Loyola University of Chicago

Spring 2014        Lorraine Hansberry Award in Academic Excellence and Service, Black Studies Department, UCSB