Alumni Spotlight: Lauren Washburn

Describe your work and activities at your current position.

I am the Floor Education Coordinator at Nauticus, which means that I oversee the daily floor programs on the battleship and in the Discovery Center. I usually present one or two programs a day (depending on how busy/what day of the week it is) and when I am not on the floor, I am able to create new floor programs and update older ones. I am excited about creating new floor programs for the upcoming exhibits that will be on the third floor of the Discovery Center: Heart of the Navy, Our Port, and Design, Build, Sail. I also work with volunteers frequently, which is especially helpful if we would like to have more than one program at the same time.

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

Just like graduate school, I am frequently researching for new programs for guests. At ODU, I received my maritime certificate, which was helpful considering that Nauticus is a maritime discovery center. My classes and maritime internship both aided in my experience considering that this is my first full time job and my only previous work experience was a museum job I held for two and a half years.

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

History is not just about the past, but how it compares and connects to the present and how we can learn from our mistakes to prepare for the future. For example, one of our floor programs is called Abandon Ship! in which I discuss modern survival tools such as flare guns or smoke signals and allow guests to see and interact with a present-day inflated life raft. Currently, I am working on creating a battleship Wisconsin Abandon Ship! program in which I can discuss life rafts from WWII as well as survival tools and equipment.

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

I remember all my professors from ODU! I just graduated in May of last year, so I remember all of my professors that I took a class from or TA'd for.

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

I have still been researching maritime topics, but newer ones such as the history of life rafts is a random one that I didn't see coming. I have also been attempting to learn as much as I can about the battleship Wisconsin, not just the military history aspect, but how it was built and what tools that they used on board for example.

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

I would tell current students that want to work in the museum industry that they need experience, both part time and internships. Having completed three internships and having 2 and a half years of museum experience part time was a big help. I would say that because of this I have years of experience in researching and public speaking.

What would be your advice to the department for the future?

I would say to keep on doing what they are doing. I had no bad experiences at ODU with any professors or classes.