It was a chance visit to a special exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago in 2005 that changed the course of my life. The Field Museum was hosting Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption telling the tale of the Roman city’s final hours before being covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash. The well-preserved artifacts recovered from Pompeii, including bright frescoes, polished jewelry and somber body casts, illustrate how a once thriving city was destroyed and recovered. I was in awe at the fact that these precious artifacts could stand the test of time, and captivated by the fact that people 2000 years ago lived so similarly to people today. The exhibition inspired me to understand how major exhibitions like Pompeii were produced and toured, and I set out on a journey to explore roles in museums and be a part of something as amazing as what I had experienced.

My museum career spans almost 8 years now and I have been fortunate to meet a lot of amazing people on this journey. From the Museum Program Specialist group at the Indiana State Museum, to my rockstar staff at Cincinnati Museum Center, I have appreciated everyone’s support as I worked through professional, personal and educational challenges. With that said, I am happy to announce the next step of my professional career.

I have been accepted to the Johns Hopkins Master of Arts in Museum Studies Program and will be starting classes this fall. I am extremely excited about this opportunity, and am looking forward to interacting with a variety of people at different stages in their careers. While I have enjoyed much success thus far in my museum career, I enthusiastically welcome this next phase of my life in personal and professional growth. I would like to thank Johns Hopkins University, the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academic Programs, and Ann and Claire for their amazing recommendations.

Click here for more information about the program!

Have a message of support? Leave a comment or email me directly at mharsha1@jhu.edu!