Congratulations to the WUDPAC Class of 2008!

On Tuesday, August 19, the candidates for the master’s degree in science from the Winterthur-University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation gave their final oral presentations before a crowd of professors, fellow students and well-wishers. Their speeches focused on the diverse conservation problems, treatment opportunities and research projects the students tackled during their third-year internships, which took place at institutions across the United States. After the presentations, the graduating class and their supporters mingled at a congratulatory reception hosted by the first-year students.

The presenters included paintings conservators Lauren Cox, Kristin deGhetaldi and Amber Kerr-Allison; paper conservators Jessica Moody, Adam Novak and Courtney Shimoda; and objects conservators Debra Breslin, Katie Payne de Chavez and Samantha Springer. (Elizabeth Shuster, the tenth member of the class of 2008, delayed her internship year after the birth of a daughter and will be graduating with the class of 2009.) Many of the students have already accepted professional placements following graduation, at institutions including Harvard University’s Straus Center for Conservation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Lunder Conservation Center and Freer and Sackler Galleries.

“The class of 2008 excelled during their final internship year,” said Debbie Hess Norris, chair of the art conservation department. “They took on challenging conservation projects at prestigious institutions and were excellent ambassadors for the WUDPAC program. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments, and we wish them the best of luck in their careers.”

Click here to read a UDaily article about the class.