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EDUCATION

Shannon Honl, M.Arch

Image courtesy of Ellie Honl Photography

Shannon has devoted her career to sharing history with public audiences at cultural institutions across the nation. Most recently, she worked for eleven years managing digital experience, exhibition, and educational projects supporting the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C. With the Memorial dedicated in 2020, Shannon returned to her Midwestern roots. She is a Public History and United States History Ph.D. candidate at Loyola University Chicago. Her research emphasizes 20th-century U.S. history, public history, urban history, and memory studies, with a special interest in presidential libraries. In addition, she aspires to a career devoted to interpreting history for public audiences at cultural sites and institutions. Beyond her professional pursuits, Shannon enjoys playing the piano, figure skating, birding, kayaking with her dog (Vesper), and partaking in Chicago's rich culinary culture.

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

2021-2026

Joint Ph.D.

Public History and United States History

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

Ph.D. Candidate

Dissertation: 

"Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future: Historical Narratives in Presidential Library Museums, 1940 to Present"

 

Committee:

Dr. Patricia Mooney-Melvin (Director)

Dr. Benjamin Johnson (Reader)

Dr. Christopher Cantwell (Reader)

2006-2009

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

Master's of Architecture

Historic Preservation Certificate

Thesis: "Popular Houses of West Allis, 1880-1980"

Committee:

Professor Thomas Hubka (Chair)

Professor Larry Witzling, Ph.D.

Traci Schnell, Architectural Historian

2001-2006

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Bachelor of Science

Art History

WORK EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE
Work
Volunteer

2023-2024

Research Assistant to the

Department of History Chair

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL

Chicago, IL

Advised the department chair on the website, social media, and newsletter content; project managed the audit and migration of website content to a new platform.

May-July 2023

Fellowships and

Academic Programs Intern

THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY

Chicago, IL

Conducted research via oral interviews with other fellowship-granting institutions nationwide regarding the feasibility and outcome of virtual and hybrid fellowships. Prepared a white paper based on research findings and provided recommendations to The Newberry.

2010-2021

Project Manager &

Visual Arts Director

EISENHOWER MEMORIAL COMMISSION

Washington, DC

Managed immersive digital experience projects; provided curation, art direction, and graphic design for exhibits and visual materials; oversaw the development of cross-curriculum lesson plans and interactive timeline; coordinated project goals, scopes of work, and milestones with stakeholders; skilled at contracting to include: procurement, negotiation, and management.

2009-2010

PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Parris Island, SC

Graphics Specialist &

Research Assistant

Designed large-format exhibit boards; collaborated with the museum director, exhibit staff, and volunteers on design and layout of exhibits; and edited, designed, and produced the quarterly newsletter.

2008-2009

Resource Libary

Student Research Assistant

UW-MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Milwaukee, WI

Provided research assistance for students and faculty; updated and maintained digital image and architectural project collections.

2007-2009

Architectural Intern

HAAG MULLER, INC.

ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, INTERIORS

Port Washington, WI

AutoCAD drafting of construction documents; completed zoning checks, site visits, variance applications, and bid transmittals.

2005

Interior Design Intern

ZANDER'S INTERIORS

Madison, WI

Collaborated with interior designers to develop designs for clients; AutoCAD drafting of floor plans; assisted with finish and material selections.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

2023

HISTORIC WAGNER FARM

Glenview, IL

Conducted an inventory of their small object collections to include developing an inventory spreadsheet compatible with Past Perfect 4.0, updating the records catalog, object identification, re-storing, and organizing. 

2022-2023

HISTORY GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL

Served as board secretary responsible for recording, maintaining, and distributing meeting minutes and overseeing and organizing the mentorship program for incoming graduate students.

2017-2018

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE

AMERICAN SAILOR FOUNDATION

Great Lakes, IL

Advised Board of Directors on and provided support for: design and production of visual arts, editing and distribution of the monthly newsletter, and social media account and website management.

2010

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS

Quantico, VA

Assisted the Curator of General Collections with inventory, labeling, accessioning and de-accessioning of artifacts, storage and conservation of collections, and exhibit design.

2010

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

Savannah, GA

Conducted an architectural survey of historic houses and co-authored a National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Pine Gardens Neighborhood - a Liberty Shipbuilding community. 

2009

PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM

Parris Island, SC

Updated Historic American Building Survey reports (description, history, significance) for contributing structures to the Parris Island Historic District—a National Register of Historic Places site since 1978.

DIGITAL PROJECTS

Digital

Eisenhower Memorial - Pivotal Moment Films

Served as client-side project manager on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Worked with the award-winning media design firm Local Projects to produce thirteen short films as a complementary digital experience for the Eisenhower Memorial. Work included coordinating a committee of the world's leading Eisenhower scholars to curate and vet the content. Approached prominent Americans such as Senator John Glenn, President Clinton, and Admiral Stavridis to lend their contemporary perspectives on the Eisenhower legacy. Primary staff responsibility for content development, vetting, interview selection and coordination, voice-over talent selection, and feedback for rough, fine, and final cuts.

Films are hosted by the Eisenhower Foundation in partnership with

the federal government and made available through the public domain.

Eisenhower Memorial - Pivotal Moment Films

Served as client-side project manager on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Worked with the award-winning media design firm Local Projects to produce thirteen short films as a complementary digital experience for the Eisenhower Memorial. Work included coordinating a committee of the world's leading Eisenhower scholars to curate and vet the content. Approached prominent Americans such as Senator John Glenn, President Clinton, and Admiral Stavridis to lend their contemporary perspectives on the Eisenhower legacy. Primary staff responsibility for content development, vetting, interview selection and coordination, voice-over talent selection, and feedback for rough, fine, and final cuts.

Films are hosted by the Eisenhower Foundation in partnership with

the federal government and made available through the public domain.

Pivotal Moment Films
NATO: Why did the Cold War begin?
03:22
D-Day: How Do You Plan an Invasion?
02:08
D-Day: What Is The View From Above?
01:51
D-Day: How Do You Lead A Coalition?
01:36
D-Day: How Do You Prepare for War?
03:01
Pivotal Moments Micrsite

Eisenhower Memorial - Pivotal Moment Microsite

Served as client-side project manager on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Worked with front- and back-end web developers and art directors at Local Projects to design, develop, and launch an interactive online microsite showcasing the seven Pivotal Moments of Eisenhower's legacy. Work included management of processes, schedules, and budgets for the launch and maintenance of the site and its corresponding content management system. Oversaw primary and secondary source research, asset selection and permission, copywriting, and quality assurance testing. Experience the microsite here.

The Pivotal Moment microsite is hosted and maintained by the Eisenhower Foundation in partnership with

the federal government and made available through the public domain.