Jennifer Wiesner

Hey there! My name is Jennifer Wiesner. 

I was born in Chicago and spent my younger years in the city before moving to central Kentucky as a teen.  Growing up, I was always very sociable, curious, and hungry for knowledge.  I maintained a diverse group of friends, took my time in museums, and always asked “too many questions”.  My parents liked to point out that I was “unique” and bossy, while my teachers helped me cultivate my studious personality and leadership skills. 

After earning my GED, my mentors advised me to apply for some scholarships and enroll in college.  

I earned my BS in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where I majored in Archaeology and minored in Native American Studies. Once I found anthropology, I knew I found my place in the world.  Nothing makes me happier than talking about archaeology/anthropology and having a career where I can advocate for the preservation of the past. 

I completed two internships at the Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center and have volunteered my time doing archaeological excavations at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.  

I was interested in Southeast Missouri State University because the Historic Preservation program is unmatched when it comes to real experience, affordability, and faculty advising.  I was specifically interested in studying architectural history and after some research, I found that SEMO graduates get exactly the careers and experiences that I was looking for. 

I chose the MA in Public History because it will give me exactly the experience and confidence I need to complement my skills within cultural resource management. Architectural history and archaeology have a lot in common when it comes to reporting significant sites to state agencies and adhering to state and federal laws. The HP program at SEMO covers all the bases and allows you to gain the skills to do architectural history as well as the skills to clearly communicate the historical significance to multiple audiences such as friends, family, tourists, locals, patrons, students, and state and federal agencies. 

I really like the Public History graduate program so far because the small class sizes and internal department events give me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with my classmates and mentors.  

I was in awe of the beauty of the Main Campus at Cape and how friendly everyone has been. From my inquiries before I started the program up to my participation in the program now, all of my experiences getting started were met with equal enthusiasm, a wealth of knowledge, and credibility. 

In the next few months, I’m looking forward to getting more familiar with all of the opportunities and resources to study historic preservation available to me.