ANNA L. WEISSMAN, PHD

ABOUT ME

I am a politics of identity specialist, trained in social theory analysis and gender studies. My work considered the intersectional issues of gender and sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, class, and ability. I apply these lenses particularly to nationalism, national identity construction, and nation-building.

I have published refereed journal articles and book chapters on this subject, and recently edited and wrote several chapters in a volume on the global politics of motherhood.

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Now, I am applying my social history expertise to material culture. My interest is at the intersection of politics, social history, and domestic objects of the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

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I am interested in how our identities are made, remade, reified, and questioned by normative conceptions...how can this be seen through objects--especially domestic objects? Domestic objects seem non-political, but they are actually vital in (re)constructing one's identity--both as an individual and as a member of one's community, nation, or perceived class.

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I am fascinated by the politics of the everyday, and how the construction of these objects, their uses and adornment are the product of so many levels of interaction amongst different social, political, economic, and cultural streams. And we are at the center of this. 

BARKER MANSION, MICHIGAN CITY, IN

July 2020 -

• Refurnish Plan Curator - comprehensive object-based and archival research on the artifacts, architecture and historic spaces of 38-room Gilded Age historic home 

• Collections management

• Designing and delivering lecture series

• Developing local history-based public programming and permanent exhibits

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY (NMAH), WASHINGTON, D.C.

January 2020 - June 2020

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• Designed research on acquisition history, documentation, curatorial notes, exhibits pertaining to African American history 1963-1979; developed and implemented organizational methodology of division records

• Exhibition team, “Girlhood: It’s Complicated” permanent exhibit (5,000 sq. foot gallery, June 12, 2020- January 2, 2022) and traveling exhibit (2023-2025)

• Collection team, “New Paths to Change: Undocumented Immigrant Activism, 2000 to Present,” with the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

• Spearheaded collections initiative across divisions regarding responsible, community-focused collection practices, African American and Native communities

• Helped manage $40,000 for auction

• Scholarly Advisory Committee, Division of Cultural and Community Life, NMAH

MATHESON HISTORY MUSEUM, GAINESVILLE, FL

Dec 2018 - Aug 2019

• “McCarthy Moment: The Johns Committee at the University of Florida (1958-59),” Feb 2020 -Aug 2020

  • Planned exhibit and generated theme, storyboard, and content

  • Historical writing and interpretation and exhibition script, catalogues, and media for temporary exhibition

  • Included collections and curatorial work

  • Spearheaded microfiche research in local newspapers for inclusion as featured exhibition objects

  • Coordinated with local LGBTQ organizations to cultivate partnerships for objects donations and partnerships in public and on-site museum programming

• “Trailblazers: 150 Years of Alachua County Women,” March 2020, for Celebrate Women 2020  

  • City-wide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment

  • Generated content and storyboarding

  • Communicated with local experts and organizations for exhibit development and programming partnership

• Collections management

  • Accessioned and deaccessioned objects in museum collection

  • Updated condition reports via PastPerfect inclusive of digitization efforts

PANAMA CANAL MUSEUM COLLECTION, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, GEORGE A. SMATHERS LIBRARIES, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Feb 2018 - Aug 2019

• Curator of exhibit “Fog of War? WWII Propaganda in the Panama Canal Zone,” March 2020

  • Researched, developed, and curated exhibition for 15 large cases

  • Created object list, curator’s statement, all interpretive text, exhibit layout, and exhibit press release

  • Worked with Curation and Collections Management teams in the Panama Canal Museum Collection and the Latin American and Caribbean Collection

  • Presented proposal to exhibit stakeholders for final stage approval

• Collections management

  • Inventory for objects and developed and implemented new organizational system based on medium for objects of the Panama Canal Museum Collection

  • Coordinated projects in consultation with Head of Special Collections

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Aug 2013 - May 2015

• Director of Fundraising

  • Originated creative strategies for maximizing fundraising for large department

    • Designed promotional items (mugs, tote bags, t-shirts, and koozies) and oversaw sales and marketing campaigns

    • Created website and social media profile for donation solicitation and sale of promotional materials

    • Increased awareness of organization through digital media campaigns via social media and website

    • Managed 5 fundraising volunteers

    • Presented monthly status reports to council

    • Planned and evaluated fundraising events in local establishments, negotiating with establishments for participation deals, special offers, and donation of partial proceeds

    • Researched and ensured legal reporting compliance

    • Developed communication and relationship with local promotional and printing companies 

EDUCATION

PH.D., POLITICAL SCIENCE,

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2019

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE, WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES,

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2015

M.A., POLITICAL SCIENCE, 

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2014

B.A., INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 

LAKE FOREST COLLEGE (LAKE FOREST, IL)

2010

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

curriculum development and instruction

INSTRUCTOR, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Department of Political Science

• Politics of Eastern Europe, (CPO 3614/EUS 3930; Fall 2018)

2018 - 2019

INSTRUCTOR, SANTA FE COLLEGE (GAINESVILLE, FL)

2015 - 2019

Department of Behavioral Sciences

• Introduction to American Politics (POS 2041; Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Summer 2015, Spring 2017, Fall 2017)

• Introduction to Global Politics, (INR 2001; Spring 2017 - three sections)

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

• Introduction to International Relations, (INR 2001; Fall 2014, Spring 2015, online Summer 2015)         

• Politics of World Economy, (INR 3034; Spring 2012)

2012 - 2015

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS