Heather Mangrum

I started my PhD at York in September 2026.

My research aims to critically evaluate the evolution of cultural exchange immersion over the last thirty years, focusing on how participants have adapted to changing social, political, and technological landscapes. Specifically, it will investigate how digital advancements and communication technologies have altered the structure, reach, and impact of these programs between the participant and host country. The research will focus on the intergenerational experiences of participants spanning from 1991 to 2026.This generational range will allow for an expansive look at pre-digital and post-digital levels of cultural engagement.

The case study for this research will be the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture exchange program with Polytechnica Krakowska in Krakow, Poland, which consists of one semester of study. This exchange program is unique in that it started in 1991 immediately after Communist rule in Poland and continues today. In the past 35 years, Krakow has had a cultural revival as it rapidly adjusted to a new social-political climate and embraced western technological advancements to become in 2000 a European Capital of Culture. The research gathered from this case study will provide an understanding of technology’s changing role in facilitating cultural immersion and will help refine how technological tools are best utilized to create an optimal experience engaging with a host community.

Education: Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee, MA in Cultural Heritage from the American University of Rome.