Name: Michelle Kelley
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
What is your hometown? Fairfax, VA
Program at BU? MA in History of Art & Architecture, Museum Certificate
Please briefly introduce yourself, what’s your background, and where are you from?
I am a master’s student from the Washington, D.C. area with diverse interests including museum engagement, materiality, and modern/contemporary art. Following the receipt of a BA in Art History and English from the College of William and Mary, where I served as President of the Muscarelle Museum University Student Exchange, I spent time as an Interpretive Guide Intern at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gallery. After this internship, I spent time working in a D.C.-area antique and fine art auction house. I’m also involved in the Graduate Student History of Art & Architecture Association and write for SEQUITUR, the department’s online scholarly journal, as well as work at WTBU, BU’s online radio station.
Why did you choose to come to BU GRS for your graduate degree?
I only looked at programs located near lots of museums, as my professional goals are to work in museum engagement and programming. BU has proximity to a huge variety of museums, not just for visiting, but for classwork and work experience.
What are your favorite spots on the BU Campus?
On campus, you’ll usually find me in the HAA grad lounge or, if the weather is nice, sitting out on the COM lawn. I’m also a big fan of the Stone Gallery.
What is your favorite part about attending BU and studying in the US?
The access to museums and academic resources is really amazing. BU generally has a lot of resources relevant to my field of study across its colleges—Communications has photojournalism and photography, and Fine Arts brings in working artists to talk about their processes—both of which are useful when studying contemporary art. Additionally, the HAA department has been really warm and supportive in terms of faculty, staff, and other students.
How is life in Boston?
I came from the Washington, D.C. area, and I feel like Boston is a similar environment in terms of intensity. There is always something going on, but I can also unplug and unwind or go to a park and look at the river. I also have the (I think) typical love-hate relationship with the T—I love having access to public transportation but hate getting stuck on a platform or shifted onto a shuttle and delayed when there’s an issue on the track.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
I want to work in museum engagement and programming, working to get people into the museum and help them connect with the work on display.