Digital Engagement Webinars

Presenters
Rebecca Hyman is the Educational Programming and Outreach Librarian at the N.C. Government & Heritage Library, part of the State Library of North Carolina. In this role, she coordinates the library's outreach efforts, including its marketing and social media presence.

Karen Ipock is originally from the coast of North Carolina. She received her B.S. in History with a focus in education from Appalachian State University, and an MLitt in Visual Culture from the University of Aberdeen. Karen began working for the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources in 2007. She started as a historical interpreter at Tryon Palace Historic Site before becoming the site's Curator of Education. In 2013 Karen became the Site Manager for Historic Edenton State Site before relocating to the Raleigh area.  She is currently the Child Education Coordinator for DNCR's Education and Outreach division. Her main job focuses are creating educational content for DNCR initiatives and serving as the state program coordinator for National History Day in N.C.

Kaytee Smith brings more than 10 years of digital communications and outreach experience to her role as Chief Content Officer at the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, where she helps tell North Carolina's story and oversees the department's editorial and content production team. She has a full spectrum of experience across platforms, including video and emerging social media, and works with divisions across the state on digital initiatives and content strategy. She has been a featured speaker on Microsoft’s Underground Tour and Hack the Classroom and highlighted on Skype’s Social Good blog for digital outreach.

Presenters
Dr. Bryan Carter received his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently the Director of the Center for Digital Humanities and an Associate Professor in Africana Studies, at the University of Arizona. He specializes in African American literature of the 20th Century with a primary focus on the Harlem Renaissance. His research also focuses on Digital Humanities/Africana Studies. He has published numerous articles on his doctoral project, Virtual Harlem, an immersive representation of a portion of Harlem, NY as it existed during the 1920s Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance. Dr. Carter’s research centers on how the use of traditional and advanced interactive and immersive technologies changes the dynamic within the learning space. Dr. Carter has completed his first book entitled Digital Humanities: Current Perspectives, Practice and Research through Emerald Publishing, and is currently working on his second manuscript through Routledge Press, entitled: AfroFuturism: Experiencing Culture Through Technology.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Afeni Grace’s work is based in community programming and organizing. She is currently involved in every stage of Gantt Center’s programs both virtual and in-person, connecting the community to a variety of cultural experiences as a Gantt Center staff member. Her passion is blending creative experiences with mindfulness and healing work. She hopes to own community wellness spaces across the country.

Tiffany Tolbert serves as a Senior Field Officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation within its’ Chicago Field Office. In her role at the Trust she manages and leads advocacy campaigns and special initiatives such as the Nina Simone Childhood Home, John and Alice Coltrane Home and the HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative. Tolbert previously served as Director of the Northwest Field Office at Indiana Landmarks from 2006-2017. Tolbert is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, AL) in Political Science and History and Master of Historic Preservation from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). She has previously worked for the Alabama Historical Commission and the Georgia Historic Preservation Division as African American Programs Assistant. She has also completed consulting work throughout the Southeast where she completed National Register of Historic Places nominations, state historic marker preparation and conducted research on the role of women in the Civil Rights Movement. Her preservation expertise includes providing technical assistance to local organizations, preservation planning, historic designation and rehabilitation. Her research on Rosenwald Schools, African American communities and the African American experience in Indiana has been included in multiple publications such as Reflections, a publication of the Georgia Historic Preservation Division and Traces, a publication of the Indiana Historical Society. Tolbert's currently serves on the board of Indiana Humanities and as chairperson of the Hobart (IN) Historic Preservation Commission.