Sarah Shepherd served two terms with the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area at the Greenbrier Historical Society in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She was placed in their archives focusing on increasing access to local history, celebrating cultural diversity, and boosting tourism to support rural community development. Sarah left her service year with greater job experience in her chosen field and two Segal Education Awards that helped her graduate with a Masters debt-free.

Sarah came to AmeriCorps focused on “what it could do for me.” And yet, she left changed in far greater ways. Unexpectedly, and profoundly, it also gave Sarah a new appreciation and perspective on the shared humanity for people vastly different than her. AmeriCorps taught Sarah the value of service to our great country, united in a cause greater than ourselves, to help our fellow Americans, as an instrument for unity and compassion.

Sarah’s service launched her career and after AmeriCorps, she continued to work on expanding access and equity in archives. Currently, Sarah is the archivist at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library in Lexington, Massachusetts.