Career Experience

RGA, Inc. 

Archaeologist/GIS Specialist (Jan. 2013-Jul. 2017) Tabitha began working at RGA, Inc. after completing her CRM Internship (see below).  She became a full-time employee in May 2013 after obtaining her Master's degree from Monmouth University. A list of Ms. Hilliard's primary responsibilities include:

• Paperless data collection and database development
• GIS mapping, database management and graphic production
• Historic artifact identification and analysis
• Technical writing
• Field excavation

Additional responsibilities included on an as-needed basis:

• Report editing and production
• SHPO research collection

CRM Internship (Aug. 2012-Dec. 2012)  Tabitha completed a fourteen-week internship program with RGA in the fall of 2012.  In doing so, Tabitha completed three credits to contribute towards her Master's degree. She traveled to the office once a week, working seven to eight hours each visit.  Tabitha circulated between tasks each week and shadowed with several RGA staff members.  While completing her internship, Tabitha was trained assisted RGA staff with the following: Phase I survey and excavation methods, artifact analysis,  researching historic deeds, researching historic maps, archaeological monitoring and conducting field feature data entry tasks.

National Museum of American History

 Repatriation Department, Intern (Jun.-Aug. 2012)  While traveling home in the summer of 2012, Tabitha had an opportunity to work with the National Museum of American History on a part-time basis. She volunteered her time with the D.C. branch of the museum. She assisted Repatriation staff in cataloging and taking inventory of artifacts that were scheduled to return to their corresponding tribe in the coming months.

Department of History and Anthropology

SHA 2011 Baltimore, MD

Archaeology Lab Assistant (Aug.-Dec. 2012)  Tabitha worked on a part-time basis for Monmouth University in the Fall of 2012.  Her primary responsibility was to create a catalog spreadsheet of a prehistoric artifact collection.  These artifacts were excavated in the late 1970's from Turkey Swamp State Park.  The collection included artifacts like hand axes, projectile points, grinding stones and scrapers.  The collection was reunited with Turkey Swamp Park in December of 2012.

Graduate Assistant (Aug. 2011-May 2012) Tabitha obtained a Graduate Assistantship at Monmouth University in Fall of 2011 and Spring 2012.  She worked in the Department of History and Anthropology.  She has spent the majority of the academic year cataloging the artifacts from Dr. Rich Veit's previous 2011 field school.  In addition, Tabitha assisted Dr. Gonzalez-Tennant in hosting Monmouth's "GIS Day" Information Session. 

Mount Vernon Garden & Estates
Mount Vernon, VA 2011

Mount Vernon Estate 

GIS Internship (Jun.-Jul. 2011) This is the plantation that George Washington lived on from 1754 until his death in 1799. His wife, Martha Washington, lived here during the years of the Revolutionary War.  Today, the property consists of approximately 500 acres.  Visitors can walk the restored existing landscape, visit the pioneer farm, take a tour of Washington’s home, and stop off in the Education Center (a really cool museum).   Tabitha's task was to assist in digitizing previous site maps into the ArcGIS program.  She also assisted in using a total station to map the Upper and Lower Gardens. She assisted in trying to locate the original datum points to tie to the grid with real world coordinates in GIS.  At the end of the internship, she had the privilege of working on a restoration project in the Lower Garden.  What began as a hunt for a post hole, concluded with a very exciting find- part of the original 18th century garden wall. May through July of 2011

George woos the ladies at
Ferry Farm, Fredericksburg,
VA 2010

Ferry Farm, George Washington’s Boyhood Home 

Lab Supervisor's Assistant and Lab Technician (May 2010-Jun. 2011) George Washington grew up on this pretty piece of property from the age of six to twenty.  The lab is conveniently located on site, inside of the visitor's center.  Part of my job required that Tabitha assist in both supervising and training Ferry Farm lab volunteers and catalogers.  She assisted in cataloging and managing the general collection as well as completing other department assigned tasks.  Tabitha left Ferry Farm in July of 2011 at the conclusion of my contract, soon after the completion of the Washontoniana Souvenir Exhibit in the visitor's center.  (A description of the exhibit can be found here). Volunteer status: May 2009 through April 2010. Full-time staff status: May 2010 through May 2011.

Found a Mano at San Ignacio, Baking Pot,
Belize, 2009

Baking Pot Field School

Field Technician (Jun. 2009) This is a Preclassic Maya Kingdom, whose original name is unknown.  Tabitha worked on this excavation for two-weeks.  Students stayed at Midas Hotel Resort, which by the way- is the cutest hotel resort in Cayo, Belize. She still keeps in touch with several people that she met in this program, all of which were pretty amazing.  People came from all over the world to participate in this program.  We worked on a farm, endured a cattle stampeded that surrounded our lab, thousands of fire ants, killer bees, toucans, humming birds, and rain storms.   While there, Tabitha visited- Xunantunich, Tikal, Flores, and Cahal Pech.  Dr. Jamie Awe’s quote of the season: “Archaeology is the most fun a person can have with their pants on." July 2009, two-week session.

Monasukapanough Field School
University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA 2008

Monasukapanough Field School

Field Technician (Jun. 2008) John Smith is most famous for his interactions with Wahunsonacock (Chief Powhatan) and the Powhatan nations.  When Smith traveled into the Blue Ridge, he encountered the Monocan people.   Today, the Monocan’s live on Bear Mountain in Amherst, Virginia. The date of their migration from the present-day Charlottesville to Bear Mountain is unknown.   It was thought that the Monocans left Monasukapanough and the surrounding area soon after their encounters with the first colonists.  New data suggests that the Monocans may have occupied this site until the 18th century.  At the end of the field school the students took a day trip to Bear Mountain and met with George White Wolf (now deceased).  Students toured the Monacan museum, school house and church. This field school is offered through the University of Virginia. May through June 2008, four-week session.