| July 5, 2016

Karen Dearlove, Museum Curator, North Vancouver Museum and Archives

Karen Dearlove, Museum Curator, North Vancouver Museum and Archives

BY: as told by Karen Dearlove / as written by Catherine Nygren

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I began my PhD program in 2003. I had no illusions about being finished in four years; in addition to working on a dissertation on American journalistic perceptions of international relations, I was also TAing, raising a young son, working extra jobs, and volunteering at museum and archive advisory boards. Some of my committee members weren’t particularly supportive of my work or volunteer commitments because they were concerned that I might have difficulty completing my academic program.

My part-time work in museums and other paid and volunteer work during my PhD helped pave the way to my current career. Above all, networking and who you know is critical for opening up opportunities! During the 2008 Active History conference (of which my committee was skeptical), I met a curator who was a valuable a mentor throughout my doctoral program, and assisted me to secure the position of Curator at Chiefswood National Historic Site with the Six Nations of Grand River. When my family moved to British Columbia, my previous work experience with museum and heritage institutions and connections I had made helped me to connect to others in Vancouver, leading to a position as Capacity Planner at Heritage BC and my current position as Curator at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

Although my dissertation research is unrelated to public history, my PhD skillsets, especially doing research, are always valuable. Doing outside courses related to the practicalities of museum work was also useful, however, and helped to demonstrate that I wasn’t “too academic”—sometimes, the PhD can be a hindrance to one’s career, especially if non-academics don’t understand what the PhD entails and the kinds of skills it helps one develop. Since graduating, I’ve returned to my department to give presentations on career development and non-traditional post-PhD experiences, something that never happened when I was a student.

I began my PhD program in 2003. I had no illusions about being finished in four years; in addition to working on a dissertation on American journalistic perceptions of international relations, I was also TAing, raising a young son, working extra jobs, and volunteering at museum and archive advisory boards. Some of my committee members weren’t particularly supportive of my work or volunteer commitments because they were concerned that I might have difficulty completing my academic program.

My part-time work in museums and other paid and volunteer work during my PhD helped pave the way to my current career. Above all, networking and who you know is critical for opening up opportunities! During the 2008 Active History conference (of which my committee was skeptical), I met a curator who was a valuable a mentor throughout my doctoral program, and assisted me to secure the position of Curator at Chiefswood National Historic Site with the Six Nations of Grand River. When my family moved to British Columbia, my previous work experience with museum and heritage institutions and connections I had made helped me to connect to others in Vancouver, leading to a position as Capacity Planner at Heritage BC and my current position as Curator at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives.

Although my dissertation research is unrelated to public history, my PhD skillsets, especially doing research, are always valuable. Doing outside courses related to the practicalities of museum work was also useful, however, and helped to demonstrate that I wasn’t “too academic”—sometimes, the PhD can be a hindrance to one’s career, especially if non-academics don’t understand what the PhD entails and the kinds of skills it helps one develop. Since graduating, I’ve returned to my department to give presentations on career development and non-traditional post-PhD experiences, something that never happened when I was a student.

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