The Town of Shepherdstown is pleased to announce that Shepherd University senior Tabatha C. Delphi has been selected as the first participant in the newly established Shepherdstown Historic Preservation Internship program, a partnership between the Town and Shepherd University faculty designed to strengthen local preservation work while creating meaningful hands-on learning experiences for students.

The internship program will support ongoing efforts of the Shepherdstown Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC). Interns will work directly with Town staff and HLC members on projects that preserve, document and interpret the historic fabric of the community.

“This internship program represents the best of what a university town can be,” said Mayor James Gatz. “Shepherdstown’s history is one of our greatest assets, and partnering with Shepherd University allows us to both protect that history and invest in the next generation of preservation professionals. We are thrilled to welcome Tabatha into this role and look forward to the impact her work will have on the Town and our residents.”

A senior History major on the Historic Preservation track with a 4.0 GPA, Delphi brings significant research experience from local, federal and nonprofit archives. Her work has ranged from exhibit design on the black lung epidemic to large-scale digitization projects for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Her paper on preservation policy at Gettysburg National Military Park earned an Honorary Paper Prize at the 2025 Phi Alpha Theta Undergraduate Conference.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the Town government and its Historic Landmarks Commission,” Delphi said. “Shepherdstown is a beautiful community, and I’m honored to be one of the people looking after it.”

As part of her internship, Delphi will update the Town’s online historic district database, improve accessibility of publicly available information and assist with developing information for residents, realtors and business owners. “I know that communication and education are priorities for everyone in Shepherdstown,” she said. “I hope to learn more about the concerns of residents in historic districts and the ways the HLC can help.”

The internship was developed in collaboration with Dr. Keith Alexander, Chair of the Historic Landmarks Commission and a professor of history at Shepherd University.

“Shepherd’s Public History and Historic Preservation students are required to complete a 400-hour internship, so I’m always looking for high-quality placements,” he said. “The Town has a real need for additional help documenting and preserving historic resources. The two needs just converged. Tabatha was an outstanding choice. She brings enthusiasm, expertise and a commitment to preservation that will benefit both her career and the Town.”

The Town anticipates selecting additional Shepherd University students for future semesters, establishing the internship as an ongoing program that strengthens Town–university collaboration while supporting Shepherdstown’s long-term preservation goals.