Kyle P. Rothemich
5205 Highview Avenue
Stephens City, VA 22655
Kyle.rothemich@gmail.com
603-401-1053
Education
B.A., James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA., 2015.
Major: History, Public History Concentration
Graduated with Distinction in History
Phi Beta Kappa Member
Phi Alpha Theta Member
Adviser: Dr. Philip D. Dillard
GPA: 3.84
Honors Thesis: Evaluating Contested Ground: Civil War Interpretation in the Shenandoah Valley
Committee: Dr. Philip D. Dillard, Dr. Gabrielle Lanier, Dr. Margaret Mulrooney
 Conducted original research pertaining to how three distinct Civil War sites in the Valley interpret the
Civil War through exhibits and visitor centers, these include Harpers Ferry National Historical Park,
Kernstown Visitor Center, and New Market State Historical Park
 Coordinated interviews with persons responsible for shaping interpretation at each site
 Focused on how each site used objects, exhibit space, historical landscapes, and rhetoric to interpret
the Civil War
 Major conclusions include; that organizational structure of a site shapes their interpretation, and
interpretive endeavors fail to reach a suitable level of inclusiveness
 Research was selected to the annual CAA Undergraduate Research Conference at Drexel University,
March 2015
A.A.S., Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, VA., 2010- 2012
Degree: Associate of Arts and Sciences
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Member
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
GPA: 3.84
Roger Williams University, Bristol, R.I., 2009-2010
Major: History
Deans List
G.P.A.: 3.3
Digital Projects
o Maintain a blog chronicling experiences as a Park Ranger and student
(http://prospectivehistorian.wordpress.com/)
o Author for Essential Civil War Curriculum, sponsored by Virginia Tech Center for Civil War
History, forthcoming article on the Second Battle of Kernstown
(http://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/)
o Contributed to Historic Harrisonburg Walking Tour Podcast project
(http://sites.jmu.edu/walkingtours/the-turner-ashby-monument-2/)
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Research Interests
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American Civil War
Public History
Interpretation
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Cultural Resource Management
Preservation Methods
Digital History
Conference Experience
Attendee, “2015 Gettysburg Civil War Institute,” Gettysburg College Civil War Institute, June 19-24,
2015.Recipient of Public Historian Scholarship.
Attendee, “Best Practices in Slavery Interpretation,” The Tracing Center, led by Kristin Gallas, April 2-3,
2015.
Presenter, “Evaluating Contested Ground: Civil War Interpretation in the Shenandoah Valley.” Colonial
Academic Alliance Undergraduate Research Conference, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 2015.
Presenter, “Cluttered, Biased and Inclusive: Three Museum Settings in the Shenandoah Valley.” MADRUSH
Undergraduate Research Conference, Harrisonburg, VA, 2015.
Presenter, “Robert E. Lee, Jubal Early and the Battle of Creek: “One victory will put all things right.’”John S.
Mosby Sons of Confederate Veterans Annual Banquet, Front Royal, VA, 2015.
Presenter, “The Morale of a Nation: The Blitz in England, 1940-1941.” Sweet Briar College Mid-Atlantic
Region Conference of Undergraduate Studies, Sweet Briar, VA, 2014.
Presenter, “Like a caged lion eager for the fray: George Custer at the Battle of Cedar Creek.” Little Big Horn
History Associates 41st Annual Conference, Winchester, VA, 2014.
Presenter, “Plutarch's Life of Alexander: A Snapshot of Time and Place.” James Madison University General
Education Conference, Harrisonburg, VA, 2014.
Attendee, “Future of Civil War History: Looking Past the 150th.” Gettysburg College Civil War Institute,
March 2013, Gettysburg, PA.
Work Experience
National Park Service
Park Ranger, GS 025-05
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, Middletown, VA
2012-present
Under direct supervision of Chief of Interpretation, Eric A. Campbell.
 Conduct original research and presents thematic interpretative programs about the geological
formation of the Shenandoah Valley, early Native American history, European settlement of the area,
and the Battle of Cedar Creek and 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign
 Integral to the planning and execution of the park’s sesquicentennial events in October 2014
o Aided in creating special events schedule
o Coordinated the hiring of busses to be used by visitors during anniversary
o Authored numerous interpretative site bulletins to be handed out
o Created reading lists for rangers being detailed to the park
 Researched numerous special programs and lectures for the 2014 sesquicentennial season:
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“Like a caged lion eager at the fray”: George Custer at the Battle of Cedar Creek
A House Divided: The Historic Heater Farm at Cedar Creek
“On This Day” Battlefield Tour of the Battle of Second Kernstown
1864 Valley Campaign and the Battle of Cedar Creek Lecture for Orchard Ridge Lutheran
Community
o “On This Day” Anniversary Tour at Signal Knob
o “To tell the truth, it all turned into a panic”: Cavalry at Cedar Creek
o Four “Real Time” Interpretative Programs for the 150th Anniversary of Cedar Creek
 19th Corps Trenches
 Fighting by the Union 6th Corps along Meadow Brook
 Custer at Hite’s Chapel
 Union Counterattack
Work and manage the park’s Visitor Contact Station
o Keep brochures and park material well stocked at site and partner sites
o Assist with visitors and orient them to the park
o Inform visitors of potential safety hazards
o Oversee the use of park Volunteers
Lead battlefield tours for the public, tour groups, and various NPS Rangers
Designed, researched , and installed, “Wall of Faces” permanent exhibit at park
Assist Chief of Interpretation in training of seasonal staff
Work closely with both public and park partner groups in facilitating critical historical dialogue
Respond to visitor research requests via mail and email
Maintain park’s website, create web content, generate and construct park’s social media footprint
(Facebook, YouTube, etc.)
Ability to work independently, multi-task, and meet deadlines
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Public Service
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Town of Stephens City Historic Preservation Committee
o Board Member
o January 2015-present
Recognition and Honors
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Recipient of the 2015 Civil War Institute’s Public Historian Scholarship
Recipient of the 2014-2015 Myra Doherty Memorial Scholarship
Recipient of the Spring 2015 JMU History Alumni Scholarship
Member of Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society
Member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Fraternity
Member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
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References
Dr. Philip D. Dillard
James Madison University
Associate Professor of History and Graduate
Program Director
dillarpd@jmu.edu
540-568-3757
Known for two years
Jonathan Noyalas
Lord Fairfax Community College
Assistant Professor and Director for Civil War
History
Jnoyalas@lfcc.edu
540-868-7191
Known for four years
Eric A. Campbell
National Park Service
Chief of Interpretation at Cedar Creek and Belle
Grove National Historical Park
Eric_campbell@nps.gov
540-868-9176
Known for four years
Shannon Moeck
National Park Service
Interpretative Park Ranger at Cedar Creek and
Belle Grove National Historical Park
Shannon_moeck@nps.gov
540-869-3051
Known for four years
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