Phillip Seyfrit
Your title: Curator of the Battle of Richmond Visitors Center &
Museum
Years in current job: 12
Years in your industry: 12
What’s the biggest challenge in your industry? Probably the
biggest challenge is keeping the Battle of Richmond relevant
in 2020s. Madison County is so blessed to have not one, not
two, but three battlefields; one Revolutionary and two Civil War.
Maybe even three if you count the Civil War fight at Paint Lick on
the Madison/Garrard County border. With so much “clutter” in
people’s lives, we have to fight every day for the public’s attention
now than ever.
What’s the best part of working in Madison County? With
Madison County being in the middle of EVERYTHING, you never
know who is going to walk through the door. Our easy access to
I-75 brings in just families needing a break to the hard core Civil
War battlefield tramper. We are complimented by so many visitors
for being hospitable no matter what their Civil War understanding
is. Our partnerships with Richmond and Berea tourisms helps
everybody. If you treat everyone the best you can, you have no
worries. And with our interpretative sign program spanning the
nearly entire length of Madison County, visitors stay here longer,
and thus spend funds (food, gas, lodging) here rather than “down
the road”. I like to think that our efforts have really helped put
Madison County on the map not just locally or regionally, but
nationally.
Tell us more: Althoutgh there is a re-enactment near the end
of August each year at Richmond Battlefield Park, the Battle
of Richmond Visitors Center is open year round. Our local
friends can bring their guests out anytime to one or more of
the many events that go on all year. We’re not limited to one
weekend. Also, with being “young” in Civil War interpretation and
preservation, repeat visitors can see how we grow and prosper
from year to year. Many other sites ask “what is the Battle of
Richmond Visitors Center and Richmond Battlefield Park doing
now”? When long established sites (not just Civil War) come to us
to see how we do things, that’s a big compliment.
Nicholas Hartlep
Your title: Robert Charles Billings Chair in Education & Chair of
the Education Studies Department at Berea College
Years in current job: First
Years in your industry: 13
What’s the biggest challenge in your industry? In my estimation
the biggest challenge to public education right now is access and
opportunity. The academic “winners” and “losers” of our public
education system are determined far too early in the educational
process because while some students are provided access and
opportunities early on, others are not. Opportunity is something
all students need, especially young ones, because it allows them
to learn and develop as human beings. It is hard to deny the
following truth: Students cannot learn from experiences that they
are not having. Therefore, the twin challenges of “access” and
“opportunity” can only be overcome when social and educational
policy changes are implemented that prevent educational
“opportunity hoarding” and when resources are distributed in
inclusive ways.
What’s the best part of working in Madison County? The best
part of working in Madison County is its people! I count it a
distinct privilege to work at Berea College, a federally-designated
“Work College.” Although Berea College is a private liberal arts
institution, it is mission driven. What’s its mission? It admits
students with limited financial resources who are primarily from
the Appalachian region. The college was founded in 1855 and is
located in what I believe to be the heart of Madison county: Berea,
Kentucky. The faculty and staff who work at Berea are committed
to making the region and the world, a better place. Bereans’ labor
of love is always on display as everyone goes above and beyond
for the “students of promise” who attend the college. I am so
happy to be working here. Go Mountaineers!
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