Emily Wist, Marist ‘10

Double-majored in Fine Art and Spanish with a minor in History; she continues to make art and works as a manufacturing craftperson.

What has your career path been to this point?

I worked in the theater industry, and in custom manufacturing, in Chicago for seven years before relocating to the Cleveland area. I now work for Advanced RV in Willoughby, Ohio as a craftsperson specializing in their new BBox line of vehicles.

Can you share an experience/memory from your time at HRVI that stands out as meaningful?

My time with the team at HRVI was very impactful and I especially have a lot of great memories of Jason, Chris, and Andy. One that stands out is "stuffing day" when I was tasked with filling the envelopes with news, reminders, and bookmarks to send out to the subscribers (and other lucky recipients I'm sure!). The guys liked to tease me because it was one of my favorite moments of the year. Say what you will, guys! Stuffing day is meditative and relaxing, and I stand by it.

How has your experience at HRVI helped you advance your education and/or professional pursuits since graduating from Marist?

HRVI taught me the importance of enthusiasm for engaging with people, and welcoming definitely-soon-to-be history lovers into the community. The door to HRVI was always open and the team was always ready with a friendly curiosity that I try to incorporate into my own professional practices even though I'm in a different field at the moment.

As HRVI celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022, do you have any advice for future HRVI interns based on your time at HRVI and your experience in your professional field?

Don't be afraid to just say YES to opportunities. You never know what might come of it and remember: if it's not a good experience, it'll make a great story! But you'll never know which if you don't take the chance.