María Sotomayor De La Cruz
Aspiring Museum Studies Professional
Washington,DC
Summary
As a highly motivated and ever curious senior Anthropology student, I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Museum Studies as an opportunity to enhance my core set of skills. With my background in sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, and wide array of interests I hope to apply these in a museum setting and continue imagining what's next for museum institutions.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Curatorial Intern
DAR Museum
Washington, DC
09.2021 - 01.2022
Mentored by William Strollo
- Redacted, researched, and published over 260 catalogue entries from the museum's print collection as part of the organization's digitization efforts.
- Customized the selection of prints that were exhibited in the museum's Study Gallery to allow visitors to see a more diverse and theme-based display of the collection.
- Learned about specific conservation efforts, how to handle objects, and navigating Proficio, a digital collections management system.
Curatorial Intern
National Museum Of American History
Washington, DC
08.2020 - 08.2021
Mentored by Margaret Salazar-Porzio and Rosa Ficek
- Led and assisted in interviews regarding scientists' response to the pandemic in Puerto Rico as well as community engagement practices at the NMAH.
- Transcribed, translated, and catalogued a wide array of objects and oral histories that documented community based self-preservation practices.
- Orchestrated two collection efforts that will be featured in a traveling exhibition titled "Collective Care: Puerto Rican Responses to Disaster".
- Developed a series of professional connections within the institution as well as with local non-profit organizations.
Head of the Intern Newsletter Committee
National Museum Of American History
Washington, DC
08.2020 - 12.2020
Mentored by Caroline Fiertz
- Spearheaded the development of a monthly newsletter compiling all the interns' work at the NMAH during the 2020 fall semester.
- Delegated roles for the members of the committee according to their strengths and interests.
- Piloted the organization and formatting of the newsletter that was sent out to all of the museum's staff.
Work History
National Museum of American History's Tuesday Colloquium
“Collective Care: Puerto Rican Responses to Overlapping Disasters"
04.2021 - 04.2021
Hosted by the National Museum of American History
Alongside other members of my team, I presented various object collections efforts we had pursued as part of our work with local community based organizations in Puerto Rico. I specifically highlighted certain objects in order to show their complex contexts and meaningful stories.
Community Archiving Workshop
10.2021 - 10.2021
Hosted by the Hurricane María Archive and Puerto Ricans in Action
In this workshop, I shared my experiences conducting and participating in interviews for the first time to orient beginners that were trying to archive and document events in their own communities.
Conference: Hurricane María Archive
09.2020 - 09.2020
Hosted by the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey
In this conference I presented research on the local scientific community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.
Education
Master of Arts - Museum Studies, Exhibitions And Visitor Experience
George Washington University
Washington, DC 08.2021 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
University of Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico 09.2017 - 05.2021
Publications
Certification
Member of the Dean's List 2017-2021
Timeline
Curatorial Intern
DAR Museum
09.2021 - 01.2022
Master of Arts - Museum Studies, Exhibitions And Visitor Experience
George Washington University
08.2021 - Current
Head of the Intern Newsletter Committee
National Museum Of American History
08.2020 - 12.2020
Curatorial Intern
National Museum Of American History
08.2020 - 08.2021
Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars: Constituting less than 10% of students at the University of Puerto Rico.
01-2019
Member of the National Society of Leadership and Success: Forming part of the first group of students to be inducted in this newly established university chapter.
01-2018
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
University of Puerto Rico
09.2017 - 05.2021