Sarah Keiss

About Sarah

Year: Senior
Major: History (Minor in Geology; Certificates in Museum Studies, Geographic Information Systems, and Global Studies)
Hometown: Wellington, CO
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Nickell and Hollie Marquess
Research Recognition: 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar

Learn more about the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award!

Describe Your Research

In my project, “Through Hell to the Midwest: Mapping Holocaust Survival in Kansas City,” two of my professors and I used Holocaust testimonies that were conducted out of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE) in Kansas City and are featured on the Fortunoff Video Archives for Holocaust Testimonies. We watched the testimonies, and documented survivors' journeys to Kansas City. With this data, we used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to digitally map their trajectories, which MCHE has featured on their website for public access.

What was it like sharing your research?

My professors and I presented our research at the 2024 Kansas Association of Historians Conference, along with having a public presentation as part of Hays Holocaust Remembrance Month. Being able to share something that I have worked so hard on felt like quite an accomplishment, and I have been very grateful for the opportunities to do so. Through sharing our project, we were able to show people more information about this important part of history, and also consider new elements of our research and how others might engage with it.

What are your future career goals?

I want to work in public history, which is teaching history to the public at museums or other institutions. I have always wanted to work for the National Park Service, but am interested in any museum roles. This research was centered around making these testimonies and stories accessible to the public, researchers, and teachers. The act of creating this website and making sure it was understandable and accessible to a wide variety of people taught me a lot about public history work in general. I worked on taking historical information and making it easier to understand for everyone, which is what I want to do in my career.

Why should other students get involved in research?

Getting involved in scholarly activities at FHSU has opened up opportunities that I had never even thought of before. It allows you to learn a lot more about whichever field you are in and gives you additional experience. You are able to learn more about yourself, as you can refine your research interests and decide what you want to do in the future. You can also make connections with other scholars and researchers that you would not have been able to otherwise, and these can be really helpful in the future. There are many benefits and opportunities to doing these kind research projects.

About Sarah

Learn more about the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award!