I would suggest that students make sure to keep their options open and try to diversify their work experiences as much as possible. As you are completing your graduate studies, be sure to engage both academia and the public sector as much as you can. Pursue practicums, fellowships, and internships that are public facing. Also, initiate your own public-sector projects that show your ability to turn your scholarly interest into something that will appeal to general audiences. You should certainly follow your particular dreams, but it can’t hurt to be as marketable as possible.

Langston Collin Wilkins, Ph.D. 2016, Traditional Arts Specialist for the Folklife Department of the Tennessee Arts Commission