Dublin Core
Title
Kassena Hillman Oral History Interview
Description
Hillman recounts what it was like growing up in New Jersey, particularly her relationship with the outdoors and her relationship with her sister. She describes her childhood self as a “tomboy”, as she was a girl who preferred running around in the woods, playing sports, and roughhousing. She had many dreams as a child, with plans to either be a member of the Coast Guard, a chemist, or a professional baseball player. She goes on to discuss her time playing on a baseball team as a child and teenager, her experience as the only girl on the team, and then the adjustment period when she was forced to play softball.
From there, Hillman discusses why she chose Drexel University, and why she chose photography specifically. She describes her photography program and what her classes were like, along with how the demographics were much different than photography as a whole. She specifies her favorite parts of the program and describes what led her to fulfill more of a teaching role later on, which eventually led to her decision to pursue a Master's of Science in Instruction with a concentration in ESL.
Hillman then goes on to detail her decision to move abroad with her husband. She also outlines what a day in her life was like during their year-long trip. She describes the process for participating in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), and the overall experience of living abroad. She then discusses her acclimation to life in New Jersey, her time working at Liberty Travel, and her decision to eventually move out to Oregon to be with her husband, who had been working at a winery in Corvallis.
Finally, Hillman speaks on her experience getting a job with the Oregon State University Honors College and her path to becoming an academic advisor. She also discusses her path to teaching again. She then recounts her experiences at conferences for those in her field and specifically women in higher education. She talks about what she believes to be the places that she hopes to see growth for representation of women in higher education. Hillman also details her favorite parts of her job and gives advice to other women everywhere.
From there, Hillman discusses why she chose Drexel University, and why she chose photography specifically. She describes her photography program and what her classes were like, along with how the demographics were much different than photography as a whole. She specifies her favorite parts of the program and describes what led her to fulfill more of a teaching role later on, which eventually led to her decision to pursue a Master's of Science in Instruction with a concentration in ESL.
Hillman then goes on to detail her decision to move abroad with her husband. She also outlines what a day in her life was like during their year-long trip. She describes the process for participating in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), and the overall experience of living abroad. She then discusses her acclimation to life in New Jersey, her time working at Liberty Travel, and her decision to eventually move out to Oregon to be with her husband, who had been working at a winery in Corvallis.
Finally, Hillman speaks on her experience getting a job with the Oregon State University Honors College and her path to becoming an academic advisor. She also discusses her path to teaching again. She then recounts her experiences at conferences for those in her field and specifically women in higher education. She talks about what she believes to be the places that she hopes to see growth for representation of women in higher education. Hillman also details her favorite parts of her job and gives advice to other women everywhere.
Creator
Kassena Hillman
Source
Voices of Oregon State University Oral History Collection (OH 009)
Publisher
Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries
Date
February 19, 2021
Contributor
Sydney Klupar
Format
Born Digital Video, Collected Over Zoom
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Identifier
oh09-hillman-kassena-20210219
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Sydney Klupar
Interviewee
Kassena Hillman
Location
Separate residences, collected over Zoom
Original Format
Born Digital Video, Collected Over Zoom
Duration
1:17:43
OHMS Object
Interview Format
video