Mentorship Program Q&A with Rebekah Grimes (EMP)

1. Tell us about your background! How did you become interested in museums and begin this career path?

I've had a passion for history since I was a young girl, especially after I started reading the American Girl Doll books (shoutout to Felicity). With the career path part of things, I started working in museums because I was selected as a Brian C. Pohanka fellow during undergrad. It was one of the few history department specific internship programs my school offered, so I jumped on it right away! After that, I was hooked and I've worked at quite a few historic sites since, including the Seminary Ridge Museum and Gettysburg National Military Park. I am currently an educator at the Museum of the American Revolution.

2. How did you get involved with the Museum Council?

I heard about the Museum Council from one of my managers, Meg Bowersox. She mentioned the mentorship program during a staff meeting and I decided to apply right before the final deadline. Right under the wire!

3. What advice would you give to those building a relationship with their mentor or mentee?

One of the biggest things is not being afraid to open up about questions you might have or advice you need with your job search or the industry. Your mentor can't help you if you just keep saying that everything is fine. Another big thing I recommend is finding out more about your mentor's background. Not everyone has been in the industry their entire career, and you never know what work experience might be helpful to your journey. You might also find a lot of common ground, like Jenny and I did about side hustles.

4. What kind of learning experiences did you gain during the program?

I received a lot of amazing advice for the Philadelphia regional industry and how to better write cover letters/resumes. I moved to Philadelphia at the end of 2022, so getting my bearings in a new city with a highly competitive museum industry was very intimidating. Jenny was amazing with all of her advice and experience; everything she shared helped me get my footing. She also introduced me to some amazing restaurants in the area.

5. What advice about mentorship do you want to impart onto future EMPs? 

Even if your mentor isn't in the exact area you want to be in (ie: education vs archives), work with them. Like I said above, advice can be helpful no matter where it comes from. Everyone has been an emerging museum professional before they made a career out of it, plus the industry has patterns no matter what specific department you're in. I am so glad I got to work with Jenny and talk with her about the field. Our talks gave me a very different perspective on museum education and where I want to do great work.