By Tori Lohmann

Christine Bryant, a senior at Lindenwood with majors in History and Religion and minors in Anthropology and Public History, accepted a job opportunity this week as a curator for the Cocopah Indian Reservation Museum in southern Arizona. This amazing opportunity was given to Bryant after a long and strenuous job search that she began in December of 2020. She applied to jobs in the “public history realm” and came across this one, which actually ended up being her dream job position. She will be “in charge of the preservation and presentation of artifacts” in this museum as well as “curating the collection” and “working in the archives.”

Bryant is the perfect candidate for this job, not only because she is passionate about it and extremely driven, but also because she previously had an internship at the National Blues Museum in Downtown Saint Louis. She was an “assistant curator and researcher for the David Spitzer Photography Collection.” This meant she “was able to handle...documents that are only ever housed in that museum and the Smithsonian,” therefore she has had sufficient experience for the job she will have after graduating.

Bryant gushes over the position saying she “has always wanted to work in a museum” because she “come[s] from a long line of history buffs.” She thinks of history as “putting puzzle pieces together,” and those who work in museums are essentially putting together those pieces for others to enjoy and learn from. She notes that she is “thankful to have the opportunity to actually get to do what [she] want[s] to do,” as sometimes it is difficult to get your dream job right out of college.

When asked about how Lindenwood has encouraged and influenced her passions, Bryant responds with nothing but admiration and appreciation for Lindenwood’s School of Humanities and the programs she has been a part of. “I am extremely thankful for the Humanities department,” she says, since they have “done an amazing job at preparing me for my dream job.” She continues by shouting out a few of the people who have helped her along the way, like Dean Kathi Vosevich and Dr. Travis McMaken, and mentions that “almost every one of [the people in the History and Religions departments] has had a hand in helping [her] reach this point in [her] life.” The School of Humanities has helped Bryant stay motivated, as she mentions she has “never wavered from [reaching her] dream job [the] entire four years” that she has been a part of this school; the faculty and staff “never doubted [her] and [her] abilities.” “They not only remember your name, but they remember your story,” she states, referring to the incredible faculty and staff in the Humanities department.

Bryant’s passion is evident when talking with her, and it is amazing to see a fellow Humanities student succeed to such great lengths so early on. “I have worked so hard to get here,” says Bryant – and it shows. Great things are ahead for Christine, and all of us at Lindenwood cannot wait to see what you accomplish. Congratulations!