Alumni Profile – Katherine Mitchell
- What have you been doing since you graduated from BU? Details about your current and past employment? Accomplishments you’re proud of? Challenges you’ve encountered?
Since graduation (May 2024) I’ve been working as the Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Boston Public Library’s Central Library. In this role, I oversee interpretation and educational programming around the history of the BPL and the Central Library building. I’m in the process of developing a digital visitor guide to allow visitors to engage with the BPL and our building in new ways! Working in a big organization and across library departments has been an adjustment, and it’s an exciting opportunity for collaboration.
- How did your time in the department shape your professional and personal lives?
My time at BU had a big impact on my career. The opportunities I had during grad school, both within the department and in internships, to develop programming and work collaboratively made me realize that I wanted to continue to share art and history in a public-facing role.
- Any advice that you would’ve given to your younger self?
Build relationships! As I got to the end of my time at BU, I had a lot of conversations with HAA alumni and other people working in the art history and museum fields. This helped to shape my job search and made dissertation writing a less lonely process. The connections that I built also helped me to get job interviews and hear about job opportunities. I got an interview for my current position through someone I had previously discussed museum careers with.