My name is Cari Whittenburg (she/her) and I am from San Angelo, Texas. I got my undergraduate degree at Texas Tech, my master’s degree from Missouri State, and am now pursuing my Ph.D. here at CSU! I study sites of public memory as a way of understanding how they appeal to our national character and invite a shared sense of the past. In my master’s thesis, I explored two sites in particular: the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the 9/11 Museum located in New York City. I pay careful attention to how message construction relates to whether the terrorist threat is framed as external or internal, and how that influences what it means to be American. Ultimately, I deeply love museums and I hope to use my knowledge to educate children, college students, and the general public. In my spare time, I enjoy going to flea markets, exploring with friends, and hanging out with my black cat Suzy!