Marco Cruz ‘24

Enrolled in Master’s in Library and Information Science

During my time at Lewis, I pursued my bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Theology. I also worked as a student intern with the Adelmann Regional History Collection as part of the Donnelley Foundation “Reclaiming the African American Narrative” grant. I visited all four partner organizations, and I digitized their collections. The overall goal was to assist the community partner in telling their own stories. Part of what got me interested in public history were the courses offered at Lewis by Dr. Cremin. He emphasized the importance of engaging the knowledge history out in the field. Currently I am pursuing my Master’s in Library and Information Science with a certificate in Archival Studies. I intend to work in archives either locally or nationally. I believe public history is important, and archivists contribute through the preservation of artifacts and historical documents. My ultimate goal is to work in the archives of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Fregeau ’18, ‘20

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Melissa Fregeau is an Education Program Coordinator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In the summer of 2025, Melissa helped run an aviation camp in Arkansas. As the Smithsonian expands the Explainers Program team, Melissa has been added as a full-time staff member.

Melissa reflected on Br. John Vietoris’ class, The American Presidency. “He brought each president to life, helping us see them as complex figures, making decisions based on far more than just their personal opinions.” Additionally, she reflects, “His passion for history and dedication to teaching left an indelible mark on me, and I am forever grateful for his guidance.” Melissa gained hands-on experience by working at the Adelmann Regional History Collection and Naper Settlement.

Mason Wilson ’22, ‘24

Enrolled in Master’s of Library and Information Science

I graduated from Lewis University with a BA in History and went on to graduate with an MBA. I am enrolled in Dominican University's Master’s of Library and Information Science. I loved being at Lewis because it has a beautiful campus and small class size. I was able to work closely with my professors, and I was a Graduate Assistant in the Adelmann Regional History Collection.