Maria Mougridis

Hello, my name is Maria and I attended grad school at Southeast from 2017-2019! Going to grad school was not something I really thought I would do, but it has really helped me get to where I am.

With graduation from undergrad looming and no job prospects in sight, I decided grad school was the next path for me. When doing my research into grad school, I found the National Council on Public History which lists programs and other resources for the Public History profession. Through NCPH, a website I highly recommend you check out because it has tons of helpful information and resources, I found Southeast. When I looked into the school, it seemed like a good fit and a beautiful campus. I did apply to a couple of other schools, but I ultimately chose Southeast because I was offered a graduate assistantship which made it financially possible for me to attend.

Southeast ended up being a really good fit for me too because the Historic Preservation track offered courses on the built environment that I really enjoyed. Of those classes Field School and History of American Architecture were my favorites!

Attending Southeast was a good decision for me because it gave me a lot of opportunities and really helped me to get the job I have today. The professors have so many connections within the field that there were always a lot of networking opportunities which helped me get my internship and my job. Southeast’s preservation program is well known in the region and locals were always very welcoming. Since so many community members were familiar with the historic preservation program and saw the impact of the program, they actively wanted to work with Southeast students. There were always volunteer, educational, and professional opportunities available to us.

Currently I work for the Texas Historical Commission in Austin, Texas as a Certified Local Government Program Specialist within the Community Heritage Development Division. In this position I am able to work with Certified Local Governments (CLGs) throughout Texas, both cities and counties, to help them promote historic preservation. These communities know they have special historic places that they want to protect so we give them training and guidance so that they can preserve their historic resources and tell their community’s story.

All of the opportunities I had at Southeast and everything I learned has really helped prepare me for this position. Learning about the Main Street Four Point Approach, working on a National Register nomination, and preparing a historic resources survey has given me a lot of knowledge and experience that I have been able to apply to this current position and hopefully to any future endeavors!

For anyone starting grad school I offer two pieces of advice.

Firstly, take advantage of every opportunity you are given. If you have a chance to go to a conference or a networking event, GO. If you have a chance to volunteer or attend a seminar, DO IT. Everything you do in grad school is preparing you for your career and networking is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door, so go to those events and meet as many people as you can.

Secondly, take time for yourself. Whether that is going to therapy, shopping, or spending time with friends away from campus, do whatever you need to do for your mental health because grad school is stressful and can overwhelm you if you let it. I really struggled with my mental health in grad school and wish I had focused more on it.

As stressful and challenging as grad school was for me, I’m glad I was able to go because I don’t think I would have my current job without it. It really did help prepare me for my career.