Reception Time!

Each Spring, the Montgomery College-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship celebrates the outgoing and current Smithsonian Faculty Fellow cohorts with a reception at one of the museums. This year we gathered in the library of the Smithsonian Castle to honor our 2018 Fellows and recognize our 2019 cohort. The Final Report for the 2018 Fellowship year was also distributed, a testament to the outstanding work done by the 2018 Fellows. The room was filled with current and past Fellows, Smithsonian curators, friends and family members, all there to celebrate the completion of the 22nd year of the Fellowship.

Sara Bachman Ducey, Director of the Paul Peck Humanities Institute at Montgomery College was Mistress of Ceremonies for the afternoon. She was introduced by Philippa Rappoport, Manager of Community Engagement, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Engagement and partner in the Fellowship. Stephanie Norby, Director, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Engagement spoke of the value the partnership continues to have for both institutions. Carolyn Terry, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Montgomery College spoke  about the impact the program continues to have on students. Montgomery College  students represent more than 150 countries, and for many, this class trip is their first experience with the Smithsonian. It is through these trips that students gain understanding that they too, are part of America, and begin to understand how they will contribute to the country’s ongoing history.

Fellows and guests were also  treated to  inspirational remarks from Kinshasha Holman Conwill, Deputy Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and Rex Ellis, Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs Emeritus at NMAAHC.  Both are strong supporters of the Fellowship and understand its relevancy in today’s world.  Rex was honored with a special gift for his longtime support of the Fellowship,which dates back to the program’s inception. Harry Rubenstein, Curator Emeritus also received special recognition. Harry presented to the Fellows for 20 of the 22 years the Fellowship has existed.  Both have recently retired, and will be sorely missed. Rachel Bonaparte, SFF2018 presented a brief overview of the museum-based project she developed for her students, sharing the community service component that involved working with students at a school for teens with special needs, and together creating a mural focusing on democracy that is now a permanent part of the school.

The afternoon concluded with an informal social hour, allowing for conversation and renewing of friendships.