Museology Communications and Marketing Assistant Xavier Lucas-Cooper (’27) spoke with Mitch Cook-Graver (’27) about his work study experience at the Burke Museum.
What is your academic background and how did that draw you to your position in the Burke?
My undergraduate education was in Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of New Mexico. With this degree, I got an archaeology job with the Forest Service near Mount Rainier and soon got involved with Greg Wilson-Mantilla’s lab on my weekend trips up to Seattle from the Forest Service bunkhouse in Packwood, WA. In the two years between undergrad and grad school, I volunteered as a docent tour guide at the Field Museum in Chicago.
How does your work in the Burke mirror what you learn in the classes you’re taking this quarter? If not, in what ways does your work supplement your classes?
My work study position gives me great collections experience- I work hands-on with fossils almost every day. As a result of this, I can focus my coursework on education, curation, and interpretation. I am also gaining practical skills like screenwashing, sorting through fossiliferous sediment, and 3-D scanning as a part of this job. This job and degree program is giving me experience in different areas in museums, which will give me a professional edge in the future.
How does your work at the Burke relate to your future career goals?
My job at the Burke provides professional experience, practical skills, and access to interesting people who will no doubt serve as connections to me after I graduate and head into the professional museum world.
It’s so exciting to have a chance to help this lab with higher level tasks like training new volunteers and work that may culminate in a thesis.
What is your favorite part of your work at the Burke?
My favorite part of this job is the people. Never before in my life have I been around so many people with so much passion about prehistoric life. Another huge perk of being a part of the Wilson-Mantilla lab is that we run a paleontology field school in Hell Creek, Montana. Hell Creek is one of the most productive fossil formations in the world, and I’m already getting pumped up for my first season out there this summer.
Special thanks to Greg Wilson-Mantilla, Dave DeMar, Kelsie Abrams, Michael Holland, Brody Horvatter, Isiah Newbins, Nina Selto, Zeke Augustine, all Burke Paleontology staff and Ben Rotenberg (Museology alum!) for being so welcoming and knowledgeable. Y’all are the best!