Welcome to Reflective History, Leah Suhrstedt’s home on the web.

I completed my MA in History at American University in 2010 with a focus in public history. At American University, my public history coursework included a Public History Seminar and Practicum, Historic Site Management, and a course entitled How History Matters that addressed the issue of tough history in public history settings.

My academic historical background is grounded in early American history, in which I have passed my comprehensive exams. My favorite era of study is the American Civil War. I studied the fugitive slave crisis and the coming of the Civil War in both my undergraduate career at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, as well as at American University.

I work full time at the National Trust for Historic Preservation as the Grants and Awards Coordinator in their Partnerships Office. As the Grants and Awards Coordinator, I provide support for National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) grants and the National Preservation Awards programs. You can read more about my professional background in the work and education section of my site.