As program officer and later director of grants and programs at Mass Humanities, I worked with people all across the Commonwealth from 2007 to 2016. So much learning and discovering happens in every nook and cranny of Massachusetts! I attended programs, prowled attics full of stuff, tabled at fairs, and even took a trip on a sailing ship.
I came to know the public history community in Massachusetts quite well, and supported and guided hundreds of grant projects in all humanities disciplines from concept through application and completion. I worked with applicants throughout the application process, supporting the developments of their projects and the writing of their proposals, following them as they came to fruition, and yes, giving them bad news as well when it didn't work out.
Beach Archaeology
Historical Society Attic
As I worked with the Massachusetts history grants, programs, and projects. I crisscrossed the entire state again and again, speaking about grants, attending programs, and in general developing my admiration for the many people who do so much work to benefit the civic life of our state.
In 2010 I became director of grants and programs, managing Mass Humanities’ grant making and council-conducted programming and -staff; working with board-based committees; participating in strategic planning, policy making, and fundraising efforts as member of the executive team; creating projects and programs and writing grant applications, reviews, and reports. I learned a lot.