Core Issues Briefing Series (Fall 2025)
Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 10/01/2025 at 3:00 PM (EDT)
-
Register
- Nonmember - $330
- Academic Program - $230
- Academic Faculty - $230
- Academic Student - $230
- Partner Institution - $230
- Partner Institution Staff - $230
- Premier Partner Institution - $230
- Premier Institution Staff - $230
- Platinum Partner Institution - $230
- Platinum Institution Staff - $230
- Complimentary - $230
- Individual Membership - $230
- Subscription Services - $230
- Institutional Budget - $230
- Institutional Staff - $230
- Individual Student - $230
- Institutional Member - $230
- Individual Student Renew - $230
Course Description
Now, more than ever, a constantly evolving landscape is testing the history field. Rather than try to piece together information and tools from disparate sources on topics ranging from workforce challenges to polarization to disaster preparedness, AASLH is now pleased to offer the Core Issues Briefing Series, a virtual program offering consolidated access to the latest research, insights, and guidance on how to respond to the history sector’s most pressing issues. Join your fellow practitioners for six weeks of once-a-week webinars that will help you strengthen your institution, your staff and volunteers, and your programs and services.
Week 1 - Understanding the U.S. History Sector - October 1, 3pm ET
America’s history sector is vast, unique, and vital. Using AASLH’s National Census of History Organizations as a primary foundation, attendees at this session will learn the ins and outs of the U.S. history sector - its parameters, key characteristics, and top pain points—as well as insights into audience trends. Attendees will gain information to help strengthen their institutions and make the case for the importance of the history community to varied stakeholders.
Speaker: John Marks and/or Madeleine Rosenberg, AASLH
Week 2 - Understanding the U.S. History Workforce - October 8, 3pm ET
Who works in the history field today? What backgrounds and experiences do they represent? How are they compensated? And how do they feel about their work? This session will illuminate answers to these questions based on the findings of AASLH's groundbreaking National Survey of History Practitioners. Attendees will learn about data and insights that can support making informed decisions, advocate for needed change, and building more sustainable institutions through this clearer, more complete picture of the people who power the history sector.
Speaker: John Marks and/or Madeleine Rosenberg, AASLH
Week 3 - Doing History in Polarized Times - October 15, 3pm ET
Political and cultural divisions in America today pose great challenges to the history field. While research shows that there is actually broad public support for a full and accurate portrayal of American history, basic disagreements persist. In an increasingly challenging landscape, how can our field navigate disputes about the past, build on areas of consensus, and strengthen the history field? This session will explore recent research and tested strategies to help history practitioners work more effectively in today’s fractious discourse.
Speaker: John Marks and/or Madeleine Rosenberg, AASLH
Week 4 - Disaster Preparedness for History Organizations and Sites - October 22, 3pm ET
How do you prepare for the worst at your history organization or site? Given increasing extreme weather conditions and other calamities, disaster planning has never been more important. While every history institution is susceptible to disasters of some kind, properly preparing for such events can promote more effective recovery. Attend this session to gain a deeper understanding of the risks an organization should consider and how to mitigate them.
Speaker: Bethany Hawkins, AASLH
Week 5 - Preparing for the U.S. 250th at History Organizations - October 29, 3pm ET
Next year will mark the U.S. 250th anniversary, a milestone with transformative potential for history organizations of all sizes, scopes, and locations. The anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share the whole history of our nation and make progress toward that “more perfect Union.” It also offers a chance to strengthen the history field by attracting interest and investment. Attend this session to learn about general approaches to commemoration and to the 250th in particular; the landscape of 250th planning at the local, state, and national levels; and conceptual and concrete tools available to help your organization participate.
Speaker: John Marks and/or Madeleine Rosenberg, AASLH
Week 6 - Engaging Younger Generations - November 5, 3pm ET
An enduring challenge for nearly every history organization or site is engaging younger generations. As debates about history and democracy gain intensity, serving these audiences—which signify the future visitors, donors, history practitioners, voters, policymakers, and civic leaders of our society—becomes even more crucial. Meanwhile, younger generations are hungry for information about “how we got here” to shape their understanding of the past and participation in the present. Luckily, there's an organization dedicated to strengthening ties between youth and history organizations: Made By Us. Attendees to this session will hear directly from Made By Us leadership about research and insights that can help history organizations more effectively appeal to and serve youth audiences.
Speaker: Caroline Klibanoff, Made By Us
Details
SESSION DATES: October 1 - November 5, 2025
COST: $230 AASLH Members / $330 Nonmembers
10% discount for STEPS participants with promo code found in the online STEPS Community or by emailing learn@aaslh.org
OPEN REGISTRATION: Until September 24, 2025; 50 participant limit. Courses typically fill up before the registration deadline, so register early.
Course Logistics
FORMAT: Online, Instructor-led, Weekly-paced course
LENGTH: 6 Weeks
PARTICIPATION: Students should expect to spend approximately 2 hours per week on the course, including the weekly Zoom sessions and optional readings.
LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS: We recommend downloading the Zoom mobile or desktop app for this course. This course content is delivered mostly through 6 focused Zoom sessions.
TECHNOLOGY: Participants will need access to internet and a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet to participate in this course. For the live Zoom sessions, we recommend having access to a camera and a headset, earbuds, or other audio and microphone device. Automatic captioning is available in the Zoom sessions.
CREDIT: Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Participant Outcomes
Course participants will learn:
- About research, data, insights, and techniques for navigating the most urgent topics facing the history community.
- How to leverage information shared in the course to strengthen advocacy efforts, guide institutional planning, and support history work at the local, state, and national level.
Who Should Take This Course
This course is relevant to practitioners of all levels at history organizations of varied scopes, sizes, and locations with an interest in gaining key knowledge, insights, and techniques about the field’s most urgent issues and how to respond to them. No prior knowledge is necessary.
Issues with registration? Please email learn@aaslh.org for assistance.
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
John Garrison Marks
Vice President of Research and Engagement
American Association for State and Local History
John Marks joined AASLH in 2017 and currently serves as Vice President of Research and Engagement. Leading AASLH’s Public History Research Lab, he directs AASLH’s field-wide research initiatives about the public history community and the role of history in American life. He also manages several other partnerships, initiatives, and special projects, including leading field-wide planning for the 250th anniversary of the United States and supporting advocacy, partnerships, and internal survey and data efforts. John is a historian of race and slavery in the United States and Atlantic World and holds a Ph.D. in history from Rice University and a BA from Lynchburg College. He is a native of New Jersey.
Madeleine Rosenberg
Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives
AASLH
Madeleine Rosenberg is the Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives at AASLH. She leads the integration of AASLH’s research, strategy, and advocacy priorities, as well as oversees related partnerships and special projects. Madeleine also directs efforts to foster engagement with major initiatives to promote their translation into broad practice and their ongoing relevance. Prior to joining AASLH, Madeleine served as the Public Humanities Specialist at the Princeton Public Library and as Chief Public Historian for the New Jersey Historical Commission. She was previously the Director of Exhibition Development at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Madeleine holds a dual M.A./M.Sc. in international and world history from Columbia University and the London School of Economics and a B.A. in history from Brown University.
Bethany Hawkins
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
AASLH
Bethany Hawkins was named Chief of Operations for AASLH in April 2016. She joined AASLH in 2005 in the role of Program Manager working primarily with the association’s continuing education programs, annual meeting, awards program, and affinity groups. Before joining AASLH, she worked as Director of Marketing for the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville and was Executive Director of the Sam Davis Home and Museum in Smyrna, TN. A life-long Tennessee resident, Bethany has both a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University.
Caroline Klibanoff
Executive Director
Made By Us
Caroline Klibanoff is the director of Made By Us, a nationwide collaboration of history organizations, museums and historic sites informing and igniting Gen Z civic participation for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Previously, she project managed exhibitions for MIT Museum’s new campus, and has worked in digital strategy for Big Tent Nation and the Bridge Alliance, developing the Civvys Awards and rolling out the inaugural National Week of Conversation. She began her career in strategic communications at the Pew Research Center and the Frameworks Institute, and has worked for cultural organizations including Longfellow House – George Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site; Northern Light Productions; the Cambridge Historical Society; and Northeastern University’s Digital Scholarship Group. She holds a B.A. in American Studies and Film and Media Studies from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in Public History and Digital Humanities from Northeastern University.
Key:
Complete
Next
Failed
Available
Locked