Alumni Spotlight: W. Robert Kelly, Jr.

Robert Kelly currently serves as the Gloucester County Museums Coordinator and Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism President. He manages the Museum of History and where he develops new educational programs, exhibits, supervises volunteers and interns, and curates the museum's 3,600-object collection. He has also established partnerships with cultural and educational organizations throughout the community and region. He is also the current President of the Fort Monroe Historical Society and Vice President of the American Friends of Lafayette. Additionally, Robert published an article in Yale University's Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies titled "Humanizing the Enslaved of Fort Monroe's Arc of Freedom" for which he was recognized as a "Virginia Humanities Scholar."

What skills and intellectual experiences did you acquire in the history program at ODU that have served you well in your subsequent career?

Critical thinking and the ability to analyze events and/or people thoughtfully and with an open mind are skills that the history program consistently advocated. I also credit my time at ODU with helping to become more confident with public speaking and using effective communication techniques.

Based on your experience since graduating: Is history only about the past or does it relate to today and the future?

I am a strong advocate for the mission of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation - "That the future may learn from the past." I love this statement because it encapsulates exactly why I am so passionate about the public history and museum career fields. Whenever I am involved with developing a new museum exhibit or historical program, I always ask (and try to answer) the question, "How is this relevant to today?"

Which professors do you remember and why from the Department of History at Old Dominion

University?

I have fond memories of many history professors and feel blessed to have had such quality instruction. Both Dr. James Sweeney and Dr. Harold Wilson inspired me to study Virginia and Civil War history and encouraged me to visit many Virginia history sites. Mr. Robert Del Corso taught several of my classes and encouraged me to continue studying history when I was not sure it was the major for me. Mr. Del Corso provided constructive and encouraging feedback and this ultimately helped me confirm my passion for research, analysis, and writing. Dr. Austin Jersild and Dr. Lorraine Lees also had significant impacts on my future career as they both had extremely high standards and dedicated significant class time to discussion and collaboration.

What new areas of historical inquiry have you explored since leaving ODU?

Studying Historic Preservation has allowed me to combine research and writing with my interests in architecture and construction. I have always been interested in "old" buildings but now I was using my history degree to save and adaptively reuse some of Fort Monroe's oldest structures.

What is the one thing you would like to tell our current students?

My advice is to seek a field of study and career that you are truly passionate about and where you feel you are making a difference. If you can do that, Monday mornings aren't nearly as difficult to wake up for.