EDUCATION
Shannon Honl, M.Arch
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.
Photo by Ellie Honl Photography
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
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
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.
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.