Hosted by the Kislak Center, Penn Libraries
This summer, we will be featuring blog posts written by PhD students who participated in Career Services’ Career Exploration Fellowship (CEF), a program that helps doctoral candidates explore their career interests through networking opportunities with advanced degree professionals. Click here to learn more about CEF.
Describe your experience working with your host.
My time at the Kislak Center allowed me to explore both the intellectual and practical dimensions of special collections work. Under the mentorship of Alicia Meyer and John Pollack, I received a thorough introduction to curatorship while also enjoying the freedom to pursue my own research interests. This work culminated in a pop-up exhibit titled Rome Before Nationhood: Colonial Encounters with Ancient Roman Visual Culture (April 30, 2025), which explored how colonial Philadelphians engaged with the visual culture of ancient Rome—through books, images, travel, and the antiquities trade—well before the neoclassical boom of the new Republic.
What did you learn from this opportunity (about yourself, potential career fields, the job search, etc.)?
The fellowship taught me how to shape complex materials into accessible narratives and engage diverse audiences, which are all essential skills in archives, museums, and public humanities. I discovered that I am drawn to communicating ideas through physical objects and, in doing so, bridging research with teaching and public engagement.
How did your CEF experience influence your future career plans?
The fellowship helped me explore career paths I had only considered in passing before, and it has given me a clearer idea of the kinds of work I find fulfilling. I am now inspired by the prospect of working in cultural institutions, libraries, and public-facing academic roles that blend scholarship with outreach.
What was the most valuable part of your CEF experience?
It was a great opportunity to observe concrete ways through which my academic training could be translated into a public-facing format. Designing an exhibit challenged me to move beyond scholarly writing and think critically about how layout, labeling, and storytelling can engage a broader audience.
Top reason PhD students should apply to the CEF program?
CEF offers structured opportunities for its fellows to step outside their departments and explore unfamiliar professional directions. The program provides straightforward pathways to gain hands-on experience and a broader understanding of where a doctorate can lead. At its best, CEF encourages fellows to test their academic skills in novel contexts and experience the relevance of those skills beyond the seminar room.
