Summer at BMC

Sun-soaked postcards from Bryn Mawr College

Lauren Footman ’14: Pensby Project Plans

Alexis De La Rosa '15 (left) with fellow intern Lauren Footman '14.

Lauren Footman ’14 (right) with fellow intern Alexis De La Rosa ’15.

My culminating project will be an online exhibit hosted through the Albert M. Greenfield Digital Center website, which will include audio and video excerpts, and photographs. The Albert M. Greenfield Digital Center for the History of Women’s Education: “aims to foster scholarship and dialogue on the history of women’s education by providing a digital space that will act as a locus for inquiry and research into these diverse histories.”

The goal of my exhibit will be to tell a narrative of College progress on diversity specifically focusing on the experience of people of Africa and the African Diaspora.

I will be conducting oral histories with faculty, staff, and alumnae across different decades who are interested in sharing their experiences, in order to gather multiple perspectives. I am excited to finally begin my interviewing which will be a great opportunity to hear the personal experiences of community members, and how they feel we can make even greater strides toward diversity. I am very excited about the opportunity to possibly re-interview [distinguished alumna Evelyn Rich, ’54]  with Alexis. So much has occurred since Ms. Rich’s last oral history. After reading through her papers, I feel she can offer even more insight about herself, Bryn Mawr, and the world in general. I am currently waiting on confirmation from some of my prospective participants to begin interviewing.

I was able to identify potential interviewees with the help of my project mentor, Provost Osirim and Cynthia Washington, of the Alumnae Office. Throughout this project they have been able to help brainstorm different ways of gathering information, and suggesting other resources to make this a successful project.

Throughout the summer, Lauren Footman ’15 and Alexis De La Rosa ’14, the inaugural Pensby Center interns, will blog about their research projects. The Pensby Center (formerly The Office of Intercultural Affairs) implements programs and activities that address issues of diversity, power and privilege, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, country of origin, class, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and disability, with a goal of improving the campus climate and enhancing community life at Bryn Mawr College.

Comments are closed.