Alumni Highlight: Kate Dieringer

As Marist Italy nears its 20^th anniversary, this is the moment to look back and highlight some of the incredible alumni that have taken the wisdom learned during their time in Italy into their lives all over the world.  This is the first of a series of conversations with alumni that we’ll be sharing in the coming weeks, to both honor their achievements and pass down their best advice to the newest students who are just beginning their study abroad journeys. Today we speak with professional conservator, Kate Dieringer.  

Kate is responsible for the assessment, intake, treatment, and management of most of the contract work for the lab, including collections from the International African American Museum, the College of Charleston, and Drayton Hall, a c.1738 Colonial American Estate. She maintains storage spaces, IPM, and object inventories for several collections and contracts within the lab, and works on site at different locations to carry out the institution’s conservation needs. Kate also organizes and maintains the emergency response and salvage plans for the WLCC, including hurricane preparedness.  

Despite this busy schedule, she took some time to answer some questions about her time with Marist Italy, and share with us how it informs her work to this day.  

How do you think that the Marist Italy program impacted your life personally? Professionally?     

Personally, I think being in the Marist Italy program gave me the opportunity to live outside my comfort zone on my own two feet. I had always lived within 30 minutes of my family and, going into the conservation field, you must realize that you move where the work is, not the other way around. Now professionally, I am not afraid to pack up my life and explore what this world and career have to offer me. Since leaving Italy, I have lived in 3 cities around the US, and even moved to Wales for Graduate school. Marist Italy was my steppingstone to being comfortable with the uncomfortable.    

What’s it like working in your position and industry?    

At the lab where I work we have a whole team of preservationists, archeologists, conservators, and scientists. We are one of just a few conservation labs in the Southeast United States and the lab is well-known in the field, especially for their work in underwater archeological finds and treatments. We have a great team working together on some of the most important aspects of cultural heritage and conservation. Being a part of this team gives me an opportunity to continue to learn something new every day and expand my interest into areas I wasn’t familiar with. I get to work with individuals and different organizations to help them by creating solutions to better their collections. I absolutely love what I do.  

How did your time in Florence prepare you for your career?   

I think the most important lessons that I took away from my Florence experience, when it comes to my career, is to have courage and confidence. Lorenzo Casamenti and Lisa always encouraged us to tackle the difficult and to be confident in our choices, even when we were nervous. They helped guide us by teaching the practical and ethical knowledge needed to make choices in our work. Greg Burney helped us gain the hand skills needed to practice in this field. Being surrounded by teachers that have passion for their work is infectious. After leaving Marist, I realized that I wanted more and I continued my education, receiving my master’s degree from Cardiff University and landing a fantastic job.    

What is your favorite memory of living in Florence?     

There are so many standout memories that make the top of the list, but honestly, I wouldn’t have those memories without the people I met. Just sitting around the kitchen table studying, making a Thanksgiving turkey in our tiny oven, Sunday dinners, birthday parties, 30 Seconds to Mars in Bologna, trips to Paris, Monaco, Pisa, and so many other places, endless trips to La Ménagère, or just walking around the city. I cherish those times and they wouldn’t have been possible without those friends. We still stay in contact all these years later. We are spread out all over the world, and we still make the time to call one another.    

What are some of the things you are most proud of from your time in Florence?   

Even though I arrived in Florence as a mature student, I grew up a lot while I was there. I made better choices with what I wanted in life. I became a better daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I relearned things about myself, and how to handle certain situations. I am proud of the time I took to become a better person.  

What advice would you give to students who are starting out on their Marist Italy journey?     

First, don’t be scared. It’s a different, but beautiful new world you are stepping into! Learn some Italian and immerse yourself in the culture! But also, do not take the city for granted. Explore every last bit of Florence. As much as I loved traveling around Italy and Europe, there are still things that I wish I would have done within the city. The time flies by faster than you think!