Stephen Bridenstine
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
UBC aligned perfectly with my dual interest in Indigenous history and public history. I found a great group of scholars in UBC’s History Department who I could constantly lean on for inspiration.
A good graduate program is about people more than anything else and I was blessed to have a great advisor in Dr. Coll Thrush, and the other staff and faculty were amazing as well.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
It was amazing to be around a cohort of young men and women who shared my love of history. The environment at UBC was also very supportive and encouraging of my interest in a career in public history.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
One of the best decisions I made at UBC was to remain engaged with my professional field. Despite my initial intentions to obtain my PhD and continue on an academic track, I also knew that I could find meaningful work in my field with a master’s degree. Having worked in public history at several sites across the US National Park Service, I kept that possibility open. I also specifically chose a thesis topic that aligned perfectly with this experience, allowing me to work seasonally as a park ranger while simultaneously completing my thesis research. That alignment made both career and financial sense.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
Immediately after graduating, I jumped back into my park ranger gig with a position at Yellowstone National Park. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that lasted just a summer. I then went to work for the Seminole Tribe of Florida running their Oral History Program. This was another truly unique and humbling position.
For the last ten years, I’ve held various positions at the Flint Hills Discovery Center, a comprehensive science, history, and heritage museum in Manhattan, Kansas.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
I made a big change in my career path which was moving from education to administration. I always knew I loved public history but also understood that careers in this field are limited in quantity. Working at a relatively small museum and science centre gave me practical experience in non-profit administration that ended up being something I enjoyed so much so that I went back to school part time for a Master of Public Administration degree at Kansas State University. This kickstarted my career in administration and allowed me to become Director at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a history major, I learned to look critically at everything and translate this into writing. This skill has served me well in pursuing competitive museum grants where you need to make a compelling case, with evidence, about the merits of your program or initiative. Each application is kind of like a little thesis which is right up my alley!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Building a career in public history is tough because while there are jobs out there, they tend to be at small organizations with unsteady funding or provide only part-time work. My advice is to stay engaged with the field through professional organizations and seek out a multitude of growth opportunities.
If you love history and education, that’s great, but you also need practical administrative skills to be a good leader in your organization.
What advice would you give your graduating self?
Keep going! Keep that dream alive but be open to where life may take you. Each piece adds up to the bigger whole.
Stephen Bridenstine
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
UBC aligned perfectly with my dual interest in Indigenous history and public history. I found a great group of scholars in UBC’s History Department who I could constantly lean on for inspiration.
A good graduate program is about people more than anything else and I was blessed to have a great advisor in Dr. Coll Thrush, and the other staff and faculty were amazing as well.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
It was amazing to be around a cohort of young men and women who shared my love of history. The environment at UBC was also very supportive and encouraging of my interest in a career in public history.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
One of the best decisions I made at UBC was to remain engaged with my professional field. Despite my initial intentions to obtain my PhD and continue on an academic track, I also knew that I could find meaningful work in my field with a master’s degree. Having worked in public history at several sites across the US National Park Service, I kept that possibility open. I also specifically chose a thesis topic that aligned perfectly with this experience, allowing me to work seasonally as a park ranger while simultaneously completing my thesis research. That alignment made both career and financial sense.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
Immediately after graduating, I jumped back into my park ranger gig with a position at Yellowstone National Park. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that lasted just a summer. I then went to work for the Seminole Tribe of Florida running their Oral History Program. This was another truly unique and humbling position.
For the last ten years, I’ve held various positions at the Flint Hills Discovery Center, a comprehensive science, history, and heritage museum in Manhattan, Kansas.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
I made a big change in my career path which was moving from education to administration. I always knew I loved public history but also understood that careers in this field are limited in quantity. Working at a relatively small museum and science centre gave me practical experience in non-profit administration that ended up being something I enjoyed so much so that I went back to school part time for a Master of Public Administration degree at Kansas State University. This kickstarted my career in administration and allowed me to become Director at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a history major, I learned to look critically at everything and translate this into writing. This skill has served me well in pursuing competitive museum grants where you need to make a compelling case, with evidence, about the merits of your program or initiative. Each application is kind of like a little thesis which is right up my alley!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Building a career in public history is tough because while there are jobs out there, they tend to be at small organizations with unsteady funding or provide only part-time work. My advice is to stay engaged with the field through professional organizations and seek out a multitude of growth opportunities.
If you love history and education, that’s great, but you also need practical administrative skills to be a good leader in your organization.
What advice would you give your graduating self?
Keep going! Keep that dream alive but be open to where life may take you. Each piece adds up to the bigger whole.
