Bryn Shockmel '12: Palamountain Scholar

An art history major who is heading off to London this fall to pursue a master’s degree, Bryn Schockmel ’12 has set her sights on a career as a fine arts curator specializing in the Renaissance period

In true liberal arts fashion, Bryn used her Skidmore experience to explore a number of fields before declaring a major.  “I have taken courses in anthropology, psychology, government—fields that I never thought interested me, but then turned out to be some of my favorite classes,” she said. “I have truly had a complete liberal arts experience, and I have grown from that.”

She discovered that her true passion was art history, particularly the Renaissance, having been inspired by her courses and interactions with Professor Penny Jolly. In her sophomore year, Bryn was a peer mentor for Professor Jolly’s first-year seminar “Made in God’s Image,” which explored Christian imagery in art from the fourth century through the Renaissance. 

Bryn served as the student representative in the Art History Department and was awarded the department’s 2012 S. Michael Eigen ’87 Prize for excellence in the field. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, was a member of the Periclean Honors Forum, and earned summa cum laude honors in art history.

To augment her studies, Bryn took advantage of Skidmore’s study abroad opportunities, spending a semester in Paris and participating in the college’s travel seminar to Vienna. “The semester I spent in Paris was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said. “I worked extremely hard beforehand to improve my French to the point where I could live with a French host family and take courses in French. As an art history major, being able to have classes taught at the Louvre is simply beyond compare.”

In addition to her academic work, Bryn served as president of the Skidmore Democrats and the Film Appreciation Troupe. 

In September Bryn will head off the Courtauld Institute of Art in London to pursue a master’s degree in art history. She hopes to then earn a Ph.D. and to launch her career as a curator.

Bryn is one of 19 students to receive financial aid this past year through the Palamountain Scholarship Fund, which has provided support for some 200 students since its founding.

“Without the Palamountain Scholarship, I would never have been able to attend Skidmore or participate in such fantastic experiences as study abroad,” said Bryn.  “I have received a premier education and have truly grown as a person through enriching experiences both inside and outside the classroom.  The Palamountain Scholarship made these past four years possible for me, and for that I will be forever grateful.”