Elizabethtown College student Eric Schubert ’23 is working on raising awareness for preserving history in Marietta by instituting the national social media campaign, “This Place Matters.” The campaign was started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and strives to engage communities in highlighting important historical sites in various towns across the country.

Eric’s work in Marietta contributes to his work in Public Heritage Studies at Etown, which provides students with interdisciplinary experience in fieldwork, faculty-supervised research, and community-based learning projects in preparation for careers in the Public History/Public Heritage Studies discipline.

The independent student research and collaboration with an Etown faculty mentor is part of the Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP) program.

Title of Research
Launching A National Historic Preservation Trust ‘This Place Matters’ Campaign Supporting Marietta, Pennsylvania’s ‘Placemaking Heritage Plan,’ Through the National Honors Colligate Council’s ‘Place As Text.’

Student Researcher
Eric Schubert ’23 (History Major with a certificate in Public Heritage Studies)

Faculty Mentor
Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Special Programs & Prestigious Scholarships

What are you researching?

Eric: This is a Community Based Learning (CBL) project, a collaboration between Elizabethtown College and Marietta Borough. The major objective of this project is to contribute to Marietta’s asset-based planning process by identifying and mobilizing both existing and unrecognized resources such as physical, human, social, financial, environmental, political, cultural, and historical assets.

I get the incredible opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of community stakeholders and conduct research that will inform economic development, revitalization, and public policy in Marietta Borough.

Why did you choose this topic?

Eric: After taking PHS201 (Elizabethtown History: Campus and Community) with Professor Benowitz, which focuses on historical preservation research work in Marietta, I realized that it was really something that I loved to do. I took the course repeatedly and when this SCARP opportunity came up that expands upon my research from the course, I was excited to go for it.

What is the most interesting aspect of this research?

Eric: The most interesting aspect of the research thus far has been hearing input and ideas from members of the Marietta community. Through collaboration with these business owners, government officials, and community leaders, I really get to understand the inner workings of Marietta — and what the future might hold for the community.

How has your faculty mentor helped you?

Eric: Professor Benowitz has helped me immensely throughout this experience. By giving me the opportunity to conduct first-hand research, collaborate with community leaders, and assist him with the project, SCARP has been an incredible learning experience that I am incredibly grateful for.

Hear from the faculty mentor – Jean-Paul Benowitz

“This is what ‘Educate for Service’ means,” Benowitz said. “Eric’s project is contributing to the asset-based planning Marietta Borough is doing for their ‘Placemaking’ grant from the Lancaster County Conservancy’s Susquehanna Riverlands program, to follow their  Heritage Plan for promoting and protecting this National Historic District’s historical, recreational, environmental, arts, and cultural resources, making Marietta a destination location and spurring economic development.”