North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Isabella Walker is a library and information science student with an interest in archives and accessibility. In 2022, Isabella graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. She is now back at UNC to pursue her master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a focus on archives and records management. This summer, Isabella has interned at the State Archives of North Carolina. Her work has involved searching through the Treasurer’s and Comptroller’s Papers, one of North Carolina’s oldest and largest groups of state agency records, to identify the names of enslaved persons. Currently, she is creating a collection guide that documents these names. Future researchers can use this guide to find records with mentions of enslaved labor, and to learn how to better navigate the Treasurer’s and Comptroller’s Papers. Working at the State Archives has reinforced Isabella’s passion for improving the discoverability of archival information. She hopes to continue foregrounding overlooked histories and communities by working with reparative description practices. Stay tuned as we highlight more of our summer interns! Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text. *Reposting to correct an error in the previous post.

“We look to Wilmington in 1898…not to wring our hands in a fruitless nostalgia of pain, but to redeem a democratic promise rooted in the living ingredients of American life.” Dr. Tim Tyson and David Cecelski, Democracy Betrayed   It’s always inspiring to spend time with K-12 teachers who are passionate about what they do, but presenting at the “Wilmington 1898 Geographies of Rage, Resistance, and Resilience” NEH Institute organized this week was particularly meaningful. The great folks at UNC-W’s Watson School of Education hosted twenty-five teachers from all our state and nation for a two-week deep-dive into this (still relatively) little-known coup. (https://lnkd.in/eje4JeJP) In a time when these K-12 scholars could rightfully have been tagged out for summer vacation and recharging in mindless ways, they instead chose to study the complex events before, during, and after 1898, while exploring best practices for engaging students in this critical, standards-aligned history. I heard from teachers who are committed to learning and getting this complicated history “right,” who are dedicated to inspiring their students even while shining a light on dark parts of our past, and who understand that “hard history” doesn’t equal “hopeless history.” This is how our teachers spend their summer vacations. Learning and planning and preparing for us (for our children - yes - but ultimately for ALL OF US.) Bonus? Not only did I get to spend some time talking about amazing souls from James Baldwin to Ben Chavis to my “history crush” Abraham Galloway (if you don’t know about this man, read David Cecelski’s brilliant book The Fire of Freedom, or see the amazing Mike Wiley's play by the same name!) but I also got to hug the neck of local hero, Bertha Boykin Todd, catch up on the exciting work of PBS North Carolina from Melissa Thibault, Ph.D. and Paula Edelson, and spend some extra time with one of North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources America 250 NC Teaching Fellows, Guy Hill. So, despite all that is happening in the world right now, I am taking a break from "wringing my hands." Instead, I am yet again feeling deeply grateful for our state’s K-12 teaching professionals, who never cease to amaze me with their perseverance and dedication. 💙 #LearningHappensHere

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Meet Deneisha Wilson, a North Carolina Central University (NCCU) graduate with a passion for non-profit marketing, now bringing her skills to the North Carolina Symphony's Marketing and Philanthropy department as their intern. In May 2023, Deneisha graduated from NCCU with her Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Management. Currently, she’s entering her final year of graduate school, pursuing her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at NCCU. Her marketing tasks include updating attendance and trend reports, researching new audience demographics, and planning promotional items for the 2024/2025 concert season. Her philanthropy tasks include researching peer orchestras’ donation pages and donor benefits, engaging with sponsors such as UNC Health, and managing on-site promotions sponsored by Wegmans, which includes selecting and photographing 'Picnic of the Week' winners. This experience has strengthened Deneisha’s understanding of non-profit organization’s fundraising, specifically, corporate sponsorships, and marketing and sales within the performing arts industry. She can’t wait to incorporate what she’s learned into her capstone research for her MBA course next semester. Stay tuned as we highlight more of our summer interns! Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text.

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Meet Rakyah Jacobs from the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe, returning for a second year as an intern with the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission! Rakyah has been assisting with the taking of Oral Histories, attending some tribal events (including the Occaneechi and Lumbee highway marker installations), and conducting research on American Indian topics of interest. She also participated in some of the commission’s Strategic Planning Focus Group sessions to hear from each tribe and Urban Indian Organization about the AIHC’s mission and values. Rakyah is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She’s excited for another year of learning, growing, and sharing the stories that make us who we are. She can't wait to see what this journey holds! Stay tuned as we continue to highlight our summer interns! Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text.

Exciting news from the world of paleontology: scientists have discovered a new dinosaur species, Fona herzogae, that lived 99 million years ago in what is now Utah. What's fascinating about this discovery is that Fona was likely a burrowing dinosaur! This small plant-eating dinosaur, about the size of a large dog, provides invaluable insight into life during the mid-Cretaceous period, deepening our understanding of ancient ecosystems. Led by North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences paleontologists Haviv Avrahami, Dr. Lindsay Zanno, and Lisa Herzog, this finding adds to our understanding of Cretaceous period life. The name Fona [/Foat’NAH/] has its origins in Avrahami's ancestral Guamanian mythology, while herzogae honors Herzog's integral research of the species. It's amazing to think that this new dinosaur, Fona herzogae, was a crucial part of the prehistoric landscape, contributing to the diversity and complexity of life during the mid-Cretaceous. Stay tuned for more updates as researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of our planet's ancient past! Read more about this exciting discovery: https://bit.ly/4cTlfMK Images: Fona herzogae. Illustration: Jorge Gonzalez. Alt Text: illustration of two dinosaurs in their habitat.

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Meet Hannah Heard, a sophomore at Davidson-Davie Community College, pursuing an Associate in Applied Science in Aquarium Science Technology. This summer, she is the latest husbandry intern at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Hannah has worked in animal care since she was 17 and has hands-on experience at her school aquarium and the Greensboro Science Center. She loves working with freshwater fish and reptiles. So far, Hannah loves working with invertebrates and doing water quality testing. This internship has given her much-needed experience and knowledge from some amazing aquarists! She hopes to work with invertebrates in her future career, and this is the perfect place to learn more about their care in a professional setting. She’s very thankful for this opportunity and loves coming to work! A husbandry intern assists staff with all aspects of animal care, animal welfare, and conservation horticulture while contributing to the daily operation of a public aquarium featuring North Carolina’s aquatic environments. Stay tuned as we highlight more of our interns throughout the summer! Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text.

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Meet lileyah Braxton, a senior majoring in Marine Sciences with a concentration in Biological Oceanography at North Carolina State University. She is currently working as a Summer Fellow under Dr. Carol Price, who serves as the Research and Conservation Coordinator for North Carolina aquariums, at NC State University’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST). CMAST is a coastal and marine science research, outreach and educational facility. Her love for marine biology began in elementary school and grew stronger through various experiences like a trip to get SCUBA certified and her semester at CMAST. She’s thrilled for her work as a Summer Fellow involving Gopher Frogs and Sand Tiger Sharks. She is interested in learning more about aquatic animals and continuing her research on Sand Tiger Sharks and hopes to be able to do research and SCUBA dive in the future. This internship has provided lileyah with more connections and valuable hands on experience in various areas that's she’s interested in. Stay tuned as we highlight more of our summer interns! Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text.

NC Title 1 Teachers! It's time to apply for an Aquarium Scholars grant! The program provides immersive STEM experiences from the NC Aquariums and Jennette’s Pier at LITTLE TO NO COST to your school! Interested in learning more? Visit the North Carolina Aquariums website - https://lnkd.in/eJ-aNi6B. Deadline to apply is Sept. 6.

Who’s ready for a field trip? America 250 NC is excited to congratulate the 3 first-place and 3 second-place student awardees from North Carolina on their success in the #AmericasFieldTrip contest! Starting this summer, awardees will explore iconic historical & cultural sites across the country, from the steps of the Statue of Liberty National Monument to the decks of the USS Constitution in Boston National Historical Park. We’re excited to see students embark on these incredible trips and learn more about our nation’s history.

Let’s meet some of our summer interns! Meet Amin Neal, a Marine Biology student at North Carolina State University. He is currently working as a Summer Fellow under Dr. Carol Price, who serves as the Research and Conservation Coordinator for North Carolina aquariums, at NC State University’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST). CMAST is a coastal and marine science research, outreach and educational facility. Amin loves every aspect of his fellowship! He's working on a cool side project using R to map sand tiger shark movement through a wind array, and he's also involved in raising endangered gopher frogs and spot-mapping sand tiger sharks for identification. Last semester, he participated in NC State’s semester at CMAST program, where he worked on an independent research project called Spot a Shark with Dr. Carol Price, leading him to this exciting summer opportunity. This internship has already provided Amin with valuable experience and insights into his future career. He's networking with professionals who share his passion, like those he met during a recent dolphin necropsy or staff members that are proficient in R. Amin hopes to combine his love for coding and marine life into his dream job. Alt text: A graphic with the text "Intern Spotlight" and a photo of a person smiling next to the text.