Emily Allred is a UMSL History alumnus and is currently the curator at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis. In 2010 she graduated from UMSl with her MA in museum studies, previously having done her undergrad at the University of Missouri-Columbia with a BA in Art History and Communications. While during her studies at Columbia, Emily worked various summer jobs and internships, but through the Museum Studies program at UMSL, she gained even more hands-on experience interning at the Saint Louis Art Museum, even staying on as a research assistant after graduation. For the past eight years, she has worked at the World Chess Hall of Fame, which she has found to be a truly rewarding experience. While some may think a museum curator's job is confined to just working in an office, researching, and writing, Emily's work also importantly consists of developing relationships with people in the chess community. She enjoys interacting with visitors and even gives tours of the museum herself. One of the most satisfying aspects of her job is seeing the visitors' reactions to the exhibits she has curated. For anyone interested in pursuing curatorial work, Emily advises that experience is essential, which UMSL's Museums Studies program offers. Also, she encourages students not to be afraid to reach out to people in the museum field, as from her experience, she has found them to be very friendly.
