SARAH PETROFF
Vienna,VA
Summary
As an employee of Fairfax County Park Authority and Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, my contributions as a dedicated team member reflect my passion for museum education, heritage preservation, and public history.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Heritage Conservation Technician
Fairfax County Park Authority
10.2021 - Current
- Assists in the Resident Curator Program by cataloging expense reports, creating advertisements, monitoring public commentary, and reviewing curator applications.
- Collaborates with local, state, and national vendors for minor and large-scale projects involving historic structure reports, cultural treatment plans, historic restoration, and natural preservation.
- Researches significant historical sites and the latest trends and practices of historic preservation through the National Park Service, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites.
- Administrates and leads the Historic Sites Volunteer Corps, an organization that hosts public and private landscape clean-ups for all historic sites owned by Fairfax County Park Authority.
- Presents Heritage Conservation Branch updates at monthly public meetings for the Fairfax County History Commission.
- Organizes the yearly Historic Oak Hill Open House, including researching the property's history, collaborating with vendors, technical editing for public engagement, and managing yearly financial records and budgets.
Program Educator
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
11.2017 - Current
- Provides guided natural sciences, history, and cultural resources tours of the botanical gardens for K-12 students, volunteer organizations, private businesses, and the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs.
- Creates programs that adhere to the Virginia Department of Education's yearly curriculum, including SOLs, Home Instruction, Private and/or Public education.
- Leads discussions on the importance of life cycles of plants and animals, different natural environments in the state of Virginia, and Leave No Trace practices.
- Interprets Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' history and its role in promoting natural and historic preservation in Northern Virginia.
Historic Resources Intern, Green Spring Gardens
Fairfax County Park Authority
05.2021 - 08.2021
- Documented various aspects of the property's history and the gardens.
- Researched catalogued records, newspaper press, and legal documents pertaining to the enslaved families and individuals who lived on the grounds.
- Assisted with hosting virtual and in-person nature and history programs including processing registrations, event set-up, fielding questions, and recording public feedback for future events.
- Archived documents such as newspapers, magazines, and articles to incorporate into future on-site exhibitions and public programs.
Appalachian Trail Intern
George Mason University
05.2020 - 08.2020
- Archived digitized scans from the Appalachian Trailway News dated late 1930s to the mid 1940s.
- Ensured converted digitized scans were edited for grammar, punctuation, organization, and overall layout.
- Wrote and submitted research papers on topics including environmental history, gender, race with the Appalachian Trail.
- Researched and created an online exhibit titled American Indian Representation on the AT that examines the historical relationship of the Penobscot Nation and the development of the Appalachian Trail.
Education
MA - History, Concentration in Applied American History
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia12.2024
BA - History, Concentration in Public History
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia08.2021
AA - Liberal Arts
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, Virginia05.2019
High School Diploma -
George C. Marshall High School
Falls Church, Virginia06.2017
Skills
- Project Management
- Program Development
- Public Speaking
- Historical Interpretation
- Planning and Organization
- Historical Research
- Analytical Thinking
- Preservation Planning
- Cultural Resources Management
- Volunteer Management
Timeline
Heritage Conservation Technician
Fairfax County Park Authority
10.2021 - Current
Historic Resources Intern, Green Spring Gardens
Fairfax County Park Authority
05.2021 - 08.2021
Appalachian Trail Intern
George Mason University
05.2020 - 08.2020
Program Educator
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
11.2017 - Current
MA - History, Concentration in Applied American History
George Mason University
BA - History, Concentration in Public History
George Mason University
AA - Liberal Arts
Northern Virginia Community College
High School Diploma -
George C. Marshall High School
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