Santina Paul

Santina Paul, a graduate student at Southern University at New Orleans pursuing a Master of Arts in Museum Studies, serves as an Interpretation and Education Intern at Catoctin Mountain Park through the HBCUI Internship Program. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in African American Studies from North Carolina A&T State University and brings a deep passion for preserving, interpreting, and sharing African American history.

During her internship at Catoctin Mountain Park, Santina works alongside National Park Service staff to research and interpret African American history connected to the park and surrounding region. Her work explores historical subjects including Black labor history and the relationship between the mountain landscape and nearby Catoctin Furnace. Through historical research, interpretive programming, educational initiatives, and community engagement, she is helping bring greater public awareness to stories connected to the people who lived, worked, and shaped the history of the region.

The internship provides Santina with hands-on experience in historical research, public interpretation, educational programming, community engagement, public history, and cultural resource management. She is developing the skills needed to translate complex historical research into engaging and accessible experiences for visitors of different ages and educational backgrounds while learning how museums and historic sites connect people with the past through interactive and informative programming.

Following completion of her master’s degree, Santina plans to pursue a career as a curator at a museum specializing in African American history and culture. Through her experience at Catoctin Mountain Park, she is building upon her academic foundation in African American Studies and Museum Studies while developing the research, interpretation, and public engagement skills that will support her future career in museums and cultural institutions.