April 27, 2026 By: Nicole McDavid, Internship and Career Coordinator UAH History Major, Gloria Sipper, interned at Historic Huntsville Foundation, an organization that promotes the preservation of historic buildings, sites, homes, and neighborhoods through the Huntsville-Madison County area. In her own words, Gloria shares her internship experience and how her College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences education prepared her to contribute meaningfully and grow professionally during her time there. About the Internship: Working with the Historic Huntsville Foundation has given me an abundance of opportunities to develop and apply essential skills in public history. During my time with HHF, I have had the privilege of curating, drafting, and assembling exhibit materials, contributing to grant writing, and even guiding a walking tour. Each of these hands-on projects allowed for a level of creative autonomy that encouraged me to produce meaningful and unique work. As valuable as these experiences have been, the most significant lesson I have learned is the importance of community connections. History is deeply personal, and HHF’s work to highlight new perspectives on Huntsville’s past reflects that truth. Through collaboration, storytelling, and engagement, HHF ensures that history is not only preserved but also felt and understood. I am so grateful to have been able to contribute to this collaborative process—one that centers community voices, keeps history personal, and shapes how we remember Huntsville’s past. How my CAHS Education Helped: The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences helped prepare me for my internship with the Historic Huntsville Foundation by strengthening my writing, research, and communication skills. My classes in Communication and History have prepared me for the effective communication of historical research, and my classes in Public History and Public Memory have provided me with a framework for how to approach different audiences. Above all, I am grateful for the faculty who supported me in finding opportunities like this one to support cultural institutions and make an impact on local preservation and education. More About the Historic Huntsville Foundation: The Historic Huntsville Foundation promotes the preservation of Huntsville-Madison County’s historic buildings, sites, homes, and neighborhoods through education, advocacy, and public engagement. Since 1984, they’ve proudly owned and operated Harrison Brothers Hardware as part of our preservation mission. Harrison Brothers is also home to the Historic Huntsville Museum, listed by the National Park Service to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. The Museum highlights multiple aspects of Huntsville history, with special emphasis on the stories of freed men and women. About the History Major: History is the study of human behavior, institutions, and cultures. Students start with general surveys and proceed to specialized electives, with every course designed to build skills in investigating problems and crafting narratives. A required course in historical methods builds expertise in finding, evaluating, understanding, and writing charitably and critically about historical sources. The capstone history seminar allows seniors to write a lengthy research paper based on primary sources. In the process of studying history, you’ll develop useful skills – like research, critical thinking, identifying and explaining trends, considering multiple points of view, and presenting information orally and in writing – that are in high demand by many employers. For questions about CAHS Career and Internships, please contact cahs-careers@uah.edu.
