JTC 25: A Passion for Art and History

As Gwen Pfrenger prepares to graduate in May with her degree in art history, she reflects on a life surrounded by art and literature. Growing up in Oxford, she found her academic home at the University of Mississippi, where she could fully immerse herself in the humanities she has loved since childhood.

For Pfrenger, museums have been spaces that tell important stories about human history. Her time at Ole Miss has only deepened this connection through international study, conference presentations and hands-on work that prepared her for a career in museums and archives.

Q&A with Gwen Pfrenger

What drew you to your major?

I chose art history as my major because art museums have been sources of knowledge and solace for me throughout my life, and I wanted to delve deeper into the stories of the objects on display — as well as the objects that aren't on display — to better understand their contents and how they fit into human history as a whole.

The art world is changing, becoming more diverse and welcoming stories that have previously been ignored or criticized. I want to be a part of that movement toward a more open approach to museum work.

What standout experiences have you had at Ole Miss?

I had the amazing opportunity to present at a classics conference in North Carolina back in the autumn of 2023. This was due to the mentorship and support of Dr. Aileen Ajootian, who encouraged me to pursue research on a Greek wine cup currently residing in our museum.

The conference was full of like-minded people who were all too happy to discuss the ins and outs of this cup over dinner a few hours after my presentation, and I felt deeply seen and accepted by the attendees.

Another opportunity I had at Ole Miss was through the study abroad program, which enabled me to study German in Berlin for six weeks in the summer of 2023. This was my first time going out of the country and it afforded me an excellent opportunity to use the language I've so enjoyed learning.

I was able to meet up with one of my former professors who had recently retired there, and we spent several hours walking through the city’s many museums.

Were there any challenges you overcame during your college journey?

A glaring challenge that comes to mind immediately would be juggling my degrees.

I began my college journey as a double major in English and art history with two minors: museum studies and creative writing. I tacked a German minor on in my sophomore year, then dropped creative writing a few short months later.

Then came a massive debacle quite late in my junior year where I realized that on my current trajectory, I would either have to take a fifth year or drop a major and minor. I'd taken on too much, gotten too excited about the subjects I was studying and wound up with too many credits left to earn.

Assistance thankfully came in the form of my professors, advisers and parents, who worked with me to determine a path that would satisfy my interests and still let me finish college in the intended amount of time. Without such an outstanding support system, I might be floundering through a fifth year of undergraduate studies when what I really want to do is get out into the world and bring about some positive change.

What are your post-graduation plans?

In the near future, I am planning on working at a museum or in an archive somewhere. My eyes have been on the northern U.S. or Canada, but most recently I applied for a fellowship at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

In the long term, I would like to eventually pursue a master’s thesis and/or Ph.D. in order to become a curator at an art museum.

In one sentence, what would you tell future Ole Miss students about your experience here?

Seek advice from your professors when you feel stuck; they’re not just there to grade you but to give you guidance when you need it.

Top: Gwen Pfrenger, an art history senior from Oxford, prepares to graduate in May after a rich academic journey at the University of Mississippi driven by her passion for the humanities and art museums. Submitted photo

See more photos from Gwen Pfrenger's Journey to Commencement