Leah Bush University of Maryland• ljbush@umd.edu ___________________________________________________________________________ CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATION Ph.D. American Studies M.A. American Studies Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and Material Culture University of Maryland Expected May 2020 December 2016 May 2016 College Park, MD Thesis: “Alternative Imaginaries, Gothic Temporalities: An Ethnography of the Cultural Construction of Aging in the Goth Subculture” B.A. Sociology May 2004 Templeton Honors College, Eastern University St. Davids, PA Thesis: “Religiosity and Levels of Peer-to-Peer Harassment in Public and Religious Schools” Oxford Study Abroad Program September-December 2003 New College, University of Oxford Oxford, England RESEARCH PROJECTS “Food Insecurity Project” July 2017-present Counseling Center, Division of Student Affairs, University of Maryland College Park, MD Principal Investigator: Dr. Yu-Wei Wang Assisting in quantitative survey design and implementation Designing, performing, and analyzing qualitative interviews Performing a literature review and preparing presentation materials “Investigating the Maryland Way” August 2016-present Dean’s Office, College of Arts and Humanities, University of Maryland College Park, MD Principal Investigator: Dr. Sheri Parks Designed interview questions regarding interdisciplinary collaborations and interviewed Brain and Behavior Initiative Seed Grantees, graduate assistants, and postdoctoral associates Performed a thematic analysis and prepared multiple evaluative reports on the efficacy of interdisciplinary collaboration between Seed Grantees Created a qualitative codebook “Being American Abroad: U.S. Nationals in Argentina” January 2017-present Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland College Park, MD Supervisor: Dr. Judith Freidenberg Transcribed and coded ethnographic interviews in Atlas.ti software Assisted in preparing conference abstract “Beyond Representation: Performance Ethnography and the Research and Presentation of Cultures at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival” February-May 2016 Museums & Material Culture Graduate Certificate Practicum College Park, MD Advisors: Dr. Olivia Cadaval and Dr. Sojin Kim, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Designed and performed an independent research project which analyzed the Smithsonian’s research practices through ethnographic interviews of curators and analysis of archival material Produced a guide to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s curation practices suitable for publication “Alternative Imaginaries, Gothic Temporalities: An Ethnography of the Cultural Construction of Aging in the Goth Subculture” August 2015-May 2016 Master’s Thesis, University of Maryland College Park, MD Committee: Dr. Laurie Frederik, Dr. Jo B. Paoletti (chair), and Dr. Mary Corbin Sies Designed and performed a medium-term ethnographic master’s thesis project studying middle aged adults in Baltimore through life history interviews and participant-observation at nightclubs “Religiosity and Levels of Peer-to-Peer Harassment in Public and Religious Schools” February- May 2004 Undergraduate Thesis, Eastern University St. Davids, PA Chair: Dr. Michael Roberts Designed a quantitative survey project examining correlations between religiosity and harassment among secondary school students in Baltimore County, Maryland Analyzed survey data in SPSS and prepared a final report CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS “’I’m a Loser, Baby’: Performances of Masculinity and Aging in Alternative Rock,” paper presenting at the 28th Annual Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Conference, November 10, 2017, Philadelphia, PA. “Investigating the Maryland Way,” presentation with Dr. Sheri Parks at the University of Maryland BBI Seed Grant Event, September 14, 2016, College Park, MD. “Alternative Temporalities of Aging in Portlandia,” paper presented at the 27th Annual Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Conference, November 4, 2016, Atlantic City, NJ. “Museum Scholarship in the Age of New Museology: Interdisciplinary Experiences from University of Maryland Graduate Students,” panelist at the 32nd Annual Small Museum Association Conference, February 15, 2016, Ocean City, MD. “The Enduring Appeal of Joy Division to the ‘Goth’ Subculture,” paper presented at the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Conference, November 7, 2015, Philadelphia, PA. “Creating Gothic Spaces: Scene, Style, and Community in the ‘Goth’ Subculture,” paper presented at the Chesapeake American Studies Association Conference 2015, March 28, 2015, Baltimore, MD. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Graduate Research Assistant July 2017-present Counseling Center Research Unit, Division of Student Affairs University of Maryland College Park, MD Assisting in survey design and implementation for a project on campus food insecurity Designing qualitative interview questions, performing interviews, and analyzing data Graduate Research Assistant August 2016-May 2017 Dean’s Office, College of Arts and Humanities University of Maryland College Park, MD Interviewed Brain and Behavior Initiative Seed Grantees for Investigating the Maryland Way Analyzed ethnographic research data Prepared evaluative reports on the efficacy of interdisciplinary collaboration between Seed Grantees and created a qualitative codebook Program Intern, Sounds of California February 2016 – June 2016 Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Washington, DC Performed and transcribed ethnographic interviews with curators and Festival participants Created an internal reference guide to the Festival suitable for adaptation for partners and participants Proof-read book manuscript for the Smithsonian anthology Curatorial Conversations Analyzed audio and video archival materials in planning the Sounds of California program Wrote articles for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival website Administrative Assistant November 2011 - July 2012 Renewal Technician October 2005 - October 2011 BenefitMall Towson, MD Developed, edited, and maintained training manuals and trained thirty employees Acted as a liason between insurance carriers and brokers via telephone, email, and postal service Restructured departmental processes to meet changing industry needs Researched, reconciled, and maintained data in seven company databases MENTORING AND TUTORING Educational Assistant October 2016-current University of Maryland Department of Athletics Academic Services College Park, MD Peer Tutor February 2002-May 2002 Eastern University Cushing Center for Counseling and Academic Support St. Davids, PA ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOFTWARE SKILLS Experience using Atlas.ti, SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Data entry/database coordination Handling a high volume of email and telephone communication SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS Prince George’s County History Consortium Fellowship, Small Museum Association Templeton Honors College Scholarship, Eastern University PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT University Teaching and Learning Program, Associate Level (expected May 2018) Diversity and Inclusion Workshop Program PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Studies Association International Gothic Association Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association Washington Association of Applied Anthropologists American Folklore Society Leah Bush 2 Leah Bush 4