From Westminster to Washington, DC: How the College Positively Impacted Alumna Danielle Brown’s Future

Alumna Danielle (Crivello) Brown, ’20 ΚΑΘ, quickly went from Westminster to Washington, DC, because of a zest for life and spirit of adventure the College instilled in her from the moment she set foot on campus.

“The liberal arts education I received at Westminster, along with the skills that came with it, instilled in me the interest in seeking out experiences that I am unfamiliar with,” Brown explains. “I also acquired the ability to learn new skills and not just perform them, but to excel at them.”

In two short years since receiving her bachelor’s degree in history from Westminster, Brown has earned a master’s degree in museum studies from George Washington University, interned in the Curator’s Office of the U.S. Supreme Court, and landed her dream job as a museum technician with the Library of Congress.

And although she lives in a major metropolitan area and is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Brown sought out Westminster because it offered more than she could find in a city: a rich history and small size.

“When I toured Westminster the first time, I could just feel the history there. No matter where you went on campus, there was a story, and I also loved the idea of a small campus, where you could walk down the street and know most of the people you are passing,” she says.

Brown soon learned that although the College is small, the opportunities were anything but. In addition to belonging to the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she performed with the Blue Diamonds Dance Team, was a stage manager for the College’s spring play, served as a host for Hancock Symposium, and was a member of the prestigious Skulls of Seven.

Today, Brown is still someone who seeks numerous opportunities to stay active. She is involved in a number of professional associations, including the American Alliance of Museums, Emerging Museum Professionals, and National Association of Interpretation. She also participates in activities with the D.C. alumnae chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.

In her free time, Brown enjoys playing games, spending time with her two cats, and exploring the District of Columbia with her husband, Mitchel, who she met at William Woods University.

With some distance between her Westminster education and the present, Brown says she has come to appreciate the support she received at the College from history faculty members, who encourage her to this day.

“They truly set me up well for a career in the history field,” she says, simply. And that is exactly what she wanted from the very beginning.