Margaret Koch - Class of 1980

Miss Margaret Koch graduated from Newman Catholic High School in the fall of 1980. After receiving a scholarship, Margaret attended Carroll College and graduated with her BA in history. She then started to work at the office of the Registrar of Waukesha County Museum as an intern. she also was a waitress and worked as a receptionist. Margaret had learned from a young age that she was interested in history. She took regular summer trips with her mother to the Milwaukee Public Museum, and visited the First-ever King Tut exhibit in Chicago and her passion grew. After her time in Waukesha, Margaret took every opportunity to work and learn about history.

Margaret worked at the Chicago History Museum, a chicago seminary, and earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Museum Exhibition Planning and Design in Philadelphia while working for a graphic design firm. After graduate school, she became an exhibition designer, and eventually, the Director of Exhibitions and Research at the Missouri Historical Society in Saint Louis. Most recently, Margaret took a job in Austin, Texas as a Director of the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Reflecting back on high school, Margaret mentions always enjoying hre history classes no matter who taught them Her biggest motivator was the librarian at Newman high at the time. Margaret says, "always encouraging me to be a critical thinker, to be more confident than I thought I could be, and stronger than I thought I was. " Her favorite memories from Newman High were singing in the choir, participating in forensics, and doing things with her circle of friends.