June 6, 2019

Ford discusses Smithsonian traveling exhibits at history conference

Dr. Elyssa Ford

Dr. Elyssa Ford, an assistant professor of history at Northwest Missouri State University, presented at the National Council of Public History annual conference in Hartford, Connecticut, March 27-30.

The roundtable, which Ford organized, focused on “The Sporting West” and included faculty representatives of Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Notre Dame, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University. 

Her session, titled “The ‘Smithsonian Effect’ in Small-Town America? ‘Repairing’ Rural Communities through Museum on Main Street,” discussed the impact of the Smithsonian name on traveling museum exhibits.

Ford joined the Northwest faculty in 2011 and teaches courses in U.S. history and women’s history in addition to directing the public history minor. Previously, she taught at Paradise Valley Community College in Arizona and had fellowships at Rowan University in New Jersey and Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. She also has professional experience working at multiple museums, including the National Cowgirl Museum and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.

She has a bachelor's degree from Colby College in Maine and earned her master’s, doctorate and graduate certificate in museum studies from Arizona State University.