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.
Eisenhower Memorial - Interactive Timeline
Provided client-side project management on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Partnered with George Mason University's Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media to curate content for an interactive timeline. Worked with web developers and user experience designers at Local Projects to create a bespoke interactive timeline to serve as an educational resource for students. Work included oversight of the milestone selection, copywriting, and back-end build-out using the content management system. Experience the timeline here.
The interactive timeline is hosted and maintained by the Eisenhower Foundation in partnership with
the federal government and made available through the public domain.
Eisenhower Memorial
Photo by Alan Karchmer; Memorial Design by Gehry Partners, LLP;
Tapestry by Tomas Osinski; Sculpture by Sergey Eylanbekov
Eisenhower Memorial - Artist Films
Served as client-side project manager on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Worked with award-winning film director, Adam Kosberg, to produce three short films documenting the themes and contributions of the memorial artists. Role in this project included oversight of the pre-production work, interview and crew coordination, script editing, selection of voiceover narration, and post-production feedback.
Films are the property of the federal government and are available in the public domain.
Eisenhower Memorial - Audio Tour
Client-side project manager on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Worked with Bluecadet to produce the official audio tour of the Eisenhower Memorial. The podcast-style tour is designed to enrich the visitor’s memorial experience and understanding of Eisenhower’s profound legacy. Responsibilities included oversight of contract procurement and negotiation, discovery, scriptwriting, pre-production, interview coordination, voice-over talent selection, art direction, and post-production feedback.
Eisenhower Memorial
Photo by Alan Karchmer; Memorial Design by Gehry Partners, LLP;
Tapestry by Tomas Osinski; Sculpture by Sergey Eylanbekov
Eisenhower Memorial - Sizzle Reels
Worked with award-winning director Adam Kosberg to produce sizzle reels for the memorial's groundbreaking and dedication milestone events. Responsiblities included script editing, selection of voiceover narration, and post-production feedback.
Films are the property of the federal government and are available in the public domain.
Frances and Gladys:
A Bicycle Tour of Frances Willard’s Evanston Life & Legacy
Worked with four other public history students to produce an interactive bicycle tour for the France Willard House Museum and Women's Christian Temperance Union Archives in Evanston, Illinois. This was a capstone project for HIST 480: Public History Method and Theory with Professor Patricia Mooney-Melvin. Contributions included archival research, script writing and editing, voiceover narration, and development and launch using Clio, an online/virtual tour platform. Specifically responsible for developing the following tour stops:
1. Introduction, 4. Rest Cottage, and 8. WCTU Administration Building.
Experience the tour here.
EXHIBITS
Eisenhower Memorial - U.S. Pentagon
2014 - 2017 | 3A-1/2 Apex | Arlington, VA
Conducted all aspects of exhibition development including proposal submittal, curation, design, production, and installation for a 3-year temporary exhibit at the U.S. Pentagon. The exhibit featured floor-to-ceiling graphics and ten-foot column wraps (printed in vibrant color on stretch fabric) showcasing the Eisenhower legacy and design of the (then) forthcoming memorial.
Eisenhower Memorial - Groundbreaking Stage
2017 | Washington, DC
Provided art direction and production management for large-format printed and multi-media stage graphics.
Eisenhower Memorial - Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
2013 | Washinigton, DC
Designed and curated a one-year temporary exhibit of the (then) forthcoming Eisenhower Memorial for display at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washinton, DC.
Eisenhower Memorial - City Club of Washington
2012 - Present | Washinigton, DC
Designed, curated, and installed a hallway exhibit of the Eisenhower Memorial for patrons of the City Club of Washington. This exhibit was created and opened in 2012 and redesigned with new images and text in 2018.
Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Barrow
2010 - Present | Headquarters Building | Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, SC
Under the direction of the museum director, Dr. Stephen Wise, and in collaboration with the Barrow family, designed large-format printed panels to complement the exhibit’s life-size models of General Barrow and casework. Work included writing the narrative, selecting the images, creating the layout, and working with a production contractor to print and install the panels. This was produced as a permanent exhibition honoring General Barrow’s contributions to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the establishment of its museum.
History of the Parris Island Recruit Depot
2010 - Present | Parris Island Museum Rotunda | Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, SC
Under the direction of the museum director, Dr. Stephen Wise, designed large format graphics for a two-level exhibit presenting the history of the recruit depot at Parris Island from inception to modern-day Crucible training. Drafted narrative, selected images, designed layout, and worked with production contractor to print and install the permanent exhibition for the Parris Island Museum rotunda.
Lyman Stewart: The Fundamentals Financier
Fall 2022 | Online Omeka Exhibit
Worked with two other public history students to produce an online exhibit as the capstone project for HIST 479: Public History Media with Professor Christopher Cantwell. Contributions included primary and secondary source research, copywriting and editing, asset selection, and development and launch using Omeka, an online exhibition and asset management software. Specifically responsible for art direction, Voyant visualizations, Omeka build-out, and the following exhibit pages:
1. About the Exhibition 5. Commodifying Christianity 6. Global Export
Experience the exhibit here.
PRINT PROJECT
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EISENHOWER MEMORIAL DEDICATION PROGRAM
Designed and edited a ceremonial program to complement the dedication of the Memorial on September 17, 2020. The purpose was to provide an account of the evening’s events and participants, pay tribute and give thanks to those who supported the project, and provide a depiction of the Memorial’s design, artists, and thematic elements. The result was a bespoke keepsake worthy of a 21st-century presidential memorial dedication ceremony.
EISENHOWER MEMORIAL LESSON PLANS
Engaged George Mason University’s Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media to develop educational resources as a supplement to the E-Memorial. Responsibilities included managing the creation of cross-curricular lesson plans featuring primary source materials and content selection for an interactive timeline; working with Eisenhower scholars to vet the content and ensure accuracy; and coordinating with web developers at Local Projects to ensure all educational resources were easily accessible and freely available to students and educators visiting the E-Memorial.
View and download all lesson plans at EisenhowerFoundation.net..
POPULAR HOUSES OF WEST ALLIS: 1880-1980
Masters Thesis
Advisor: Professor Thomas C. Hubka
This project focused on understanding the building traditions, functions, and histories of everyday (working-class) houses in West Allis, WI, and how the city’s industrial past played a role in residential development. Work included the development of an original survey method to assess and identify common housing typologies in the city of West Allis. Conducted primary source research using city permits, insurance maps, directories, census records, and historical society archives.
BUILT IN WEST ALLIS:
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND TRENDS
West Allis City Channel, 2009
Producer: David Danielson | Host: Jerry Musial | West Allis, WI
Based on maters thesis project, this film was produced for public television and school classroom audiences as an educational program showcasing West Allis city history and housing development.