This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.<\/p>\n
Behind your favorite museum exhibit, the desk of your favorite library, and the work of the archive you\u2019ve desperately needed a document from,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0someone who chose to dedicate their\u00a0life\u00a0to preserving culture and sharing stories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
At FSU, students are turning their interests and passions for\u00a0the humanities\u00a0into meaningful careers. With access to unique education, programs, and experiences,\u00a0they\u2019re building paths towards a life that, in its own way, may be seen as \u201cglamorous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recently,\u00a0a new term for women with these passions has been introduced: women in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM). FSU is full of students in the humanities\u00a0who\u00a0are turning their interests into paths that reflect what they care about most. Pursuing this path can be competitive and unpredictable.\u00a0If\u00a0I\u00a0had a nickel for every time\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been told that my major \u201cdoesn\u2019t\u00a0make money,\u201d\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0be rich.<\/p>\n
As a token of my appreciation to all those who relate, I\u2019m spotlighting some of FSU\u2019s women in GLAM.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meet FSU\u2019s Women in GLAM\u00a0<\/p>\n
No two paths in GLAM look the same. For Kamila Cascardo, a 2026 senior studying\u00a0art history<\/a>, it all started with a high school art history class.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her Campus (HC):\u00a0What made you choose this\u00a0field?\u00a0<\/p>\n Kamila Cascardo (KC):\u00a0I quickly fell in love with it. This work is meaningful because art reveals so much about human societies and the major events that have shaped them.\u00a0It offers both valuable insights and an enjoyable way to understand the world better.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Valerie Grimaldo, a sophomore studying\u00a0classical archaeology<\/a>\u00a0with a minor in\u00a0museum studies<\/a>, the interest has always been there.\u00a0<\/p>\n Valerie Grimaldo (VG): I\u2019ve always been fascinated with ancient history and was lucky enough to grow up in a place with many museums. When studying ancient cultures, you quickly realize how similar ancient humans are to us, even though the worlds we live in are completely different.\u00a0<\/p>\n Madison Appleton\u2019s\u00a0journey is all about purpose as\u00a0a graduate student in\u00a0Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Madison Appleton (MA):\u00a0I believe cultural heritage\u00a0is one of the major factors that shape our collective and personal identities. We\u2019re able to\u00a0highlight stories of communities that aren\u2019t offered the chance to see themselves in major media or even in educational settings.\u00a0Providing\u00a0an opportunity to\u00a0underrepresented\u00a0communities to share their artistic, oral, or cultural traditions is the foundation for my work in the museum world.\u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond the Classroom\u00a0<\/p>\n There\u2019s\u00a0only so much you can learn from a lecture when it comes to\u00a0GLAM,\u00a0which is why some of their most meaningful experiences at FSU have happened outside the classroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n KC: Working as the Culture and Arts Coordinator for\u00a0Club\u00a0Downunder\u00a0(<\/a>CDU)<\/a>\u00a0has been the most meaningful experience for me. In this role, I\u2019ve\u00a0facilitated\u00a0events that fall under the category of\u00a0\u201csocially engaged art.\u201d\u00a0I strive to incorporate ideas that\u00a0benefit\u00a0our student body, such as collaborating with the food pantry<\/a>,\u00a0showcasing\u00a0student artwork, and promoting cultural awareness among underrepresented groups on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to look far to see Cascardo\u2019s impact at FSU. Through the events\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0planned at CDU, such as the Interlocking Art Gala, Nole\u2019s Got Talent, and the 850 Night Market, she\u2019s created spaces where student creativity really shines.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alongside their experiences at FSU, some have also taken their work beyond campus to gain hands-on experience in new\u00a0settings, like Appleton.<\/p>\n MA: My most memorable experience was developing and installing a temporary archaeological exhibit at\u00a0Andersonville National Historic Site\u00a0through my internship at the National Park Service\u2019s\u00a0Southeast Archaeological Center<\/a>.\u00a0This experience\u00a0provided\u00a0me with the opportunity to develop technical museum skills that can only be learned through experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0journey is just getting started for Grimaldo, with exciting opportunities that will take\u00a0her all the way to\u00a0Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n VG: Through FSU International Program\u2019s\u00a0Archaeology in Tuscany<\/a>\u00a0run by Dr. Nancy De\u00a0Grumond, I\u2019ll spend five weeks in\u00a0Italy digging at an Etruscan site<\/a>. I\u2019ll get to experience\u00a0a\u00a0holistic approach to archaeology, from excavating at the site to analyzing finds in the lab. I\u2019ll also get to explore many other historical sites and museums across the northern region of Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grimaldo\u2019s emphasis on hands-on learning and a comprehensive approach to archaeology echoes the experiences that\u00a0Cascardo and\u00a0Appleton describe in their own journeys\u00a0<\/p>\n HC:\u00a0What\u00a0are some of the most important things\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0learned during your time at FSU?\u00a0<\/p>\n KC: I\u2019ve learned just how expansive and collaborative the art department is. It\u2019s opened my eyes to the wide variety of careers and areas of focus available within an art degree.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n MA: I\u2019ve learned that entering the GLAM world isn\u2019t a narrow path! Be open to exploring\u00a0different positions\u00a0at\u00a0different kinds\u00a0of institutions.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0not just\u00a0curators\u00a0or\u00a0archivists\u00a0that allow museums and cultural heritage institutions to function. Every role in a museum is important!\u00a0<\/p>\n HC: How has your perspective on museums, libraries, or archives changed since starting your program?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n KC: While I\u00a0remain\u00a0passionate about museum work, it requires extensive study to build a successful career, which can be challenging for students working toward their degrees. Because of this, I\u2019ve taken it upon myself to develop more technical skills, such as learning relevant software and gaining experience in conservation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Advice for Future GLAM Students\u00a0<\/p>\n KC: I\u2019d encourage students to get as involved as possible. You never know what skills you might gain from different opportunities, and there\u2019s no better way to develop them than through consistent exposure and hands-on experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n MA: Remain curious and\u00a0always be\u00a0open to learning! Listen to your peers, colleagues, and the communities you serve. Understanding that I\u2019m not an expert on everything motivates me to ask questions and find answers, offering a space for me to be continuously educated and engaged.\u00a0<\/p>\n After considering these valuable insights, I followed up on their aspirations beyond\u00a0graduation.\u00a0Appleton\u2019s journey reflects how the experiences and opportunities at FSU can lead directly\u00a0to\u00a0meaningful careers within GLAM.<\/p>\n HC: What are your career goals after graduation?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n MA: After graduation, I\u2019ll begin a position as a Museum Technician at the\u00a0National Park Service\u2019s Blue Ridge Parkway<\/a>. This is the first step in my career, as I hope to work as a collections manager in the future. I\u2019m very excited to start this new chapter, and it wouldn\u2019t have been possible without my experience at FSU and the Southeast Archeological Center.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Why GLAM Matters Today\u00a0<\/p>\n HC: Why do you think GLAM fields matter in today\u2019s world? What role do you think women play in preserving history and shaping cultural narratives?\u00a0<\/p>\n MA: GLAM fields\u00a0always have\u00a0been and always will be important. Museums are perceived to have complete authority over cultural and artistic knowledge. There\u2019s power in museums. It\u2019s so important that people who enter this field understand this power and\u00a0use\u00a0it to change colonial and extractive narratives. Museums provide GLAM workers an opportunity to create tangible change in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n VG: Cultural heritage is the foundation of human identity. Our languages and our histories shape who we are and how we see the world, and show us the shared human experience that exists across space and time. Women\u00a0in particular have\u00a0always been the keepers of history and traditions, having historically been the ones to keep the home and raise the new generations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Through their work, these women in GLAM are proving that GLAM isn\u2019t just about preserving the past, but about\u00a0shaping\u00a0a more inclusive and thoughtful future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0YouTube<\/a>, and\u00a0Pinterest<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\n \t