Apply for an Internship

Commonwealth Center for the Humanities and Society (CCHS)

Apply for an Internship

The following internships are available for Spring of 2024.

Site Supervisors:Jennie Cole and Kelly Hyberger

Project Summary:
The Collections Internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in the field of collections management and access. The intern will learn about various aspects related to the day-to-day and long-term care and management of collections and providing access to collections.

Internship Goals:
The intern will work directly under the supervision of the Backlog Project Registrar (Kelly) and Director of Collections Access (Jennie) to carry out a variety of collections management duties. Kelly is leading a project to gain administrative and intellectual control over the Filson’s unprocessed backlog of archival collections, and Jennie manages research services at the Filson. The qualified candidate will assist with the following:

  • Assess archival collections to determine scope and content of materials.
  • Process archival collections and create catalog records in the Past Perfect database.
  • Assist in the Filson’s public reference services by answering remote reference queries and working to develop improved access and guides to the Filson’s collections.

Learning Objectives:
The intern will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the following areas:

  • Standards and best practices for collections management
  • Collections research
  • Day-to-day collections management, policies, and procedures
  • Procedures for providing reference services in archival and library settings

The intern does not need to have prior experience working with collections. The intern will work alongside and be supervised by the staff, receiving training in the proper handling and care of materials. Attention to detail, the ability to work on a laptop using databases and spreadsheets, and good organizational skills are required along with the ability to work independently.

This position requires being on-site at the Filson’s campus and requires working in both typical and atypical office environments. There are occasional physical discomforts as dirt, dust, mold, and warm/cool temperatures. The ability to climb a step ladder, lift boxes of 25 or more pounds, and stand for extended periods of time may be necessary. Reasonable physical accommodation can be made.

The project begins January 2024 and runs through April 2024.
Students must register for 3-credit hours of internship through their home departments. The internship requires working 8-10 hours per week. At least one on-site shift is required each week for the duration of this internship, to be scheduled with the community partner to meet their needs.

The internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.


Site Supervisor:Megan Schanie, Sr. Manager of Educational Programs

Project Summary:
Spend the semester with the Frazier Museum Education Department learning the ins and outs of informal education in a museum setting. Interns will gain valuable experience in museum education by working directly with the education team to research, design, and co-present hands-on programming for students and families.

  • The Frazier Education Department serves students and their families through a variety of engaging programs including: school/summer group visits; educational outreach; Professional Development sessions for teachers; visitor engagement gallery interactions (tours, gallery talks, story times, make it-take it stations, game time, scavenger hunts); weekend family programming; and summer & winter break camps. Interns will be exposed to all types of programming areas.
  • The intern will report to the Manager of Youth and Family Programs and the Education and Engagement Specialist in the Frazier Museum’s Education Department.

Internship Goals:
Research topics, determine alignment with state educational standards, and develop programming activities for upcoming exhibits, Assist in the planning and implementation of both on- and off-site programming offered for grades K-12. Programming will support exhibits including The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall, Cool Kentucky, Rivalries, and Lewis and Clark, Assist in the planning and implementation of interactive visitor stations in the museum galleries, Assist with the development and implementation of Family History Nights for schools and Family Days, Assist with the development and implementation of the evening programming series and special events, and contribute to social media, marketing, and Frazier Weekly.

Knowledge, Training and Skills:
The internship is ideal for students interested in history, public history, critical and curatorial studies, museum studies, humanities, and education, but also for someone with strong research and writing skills and the ability to work independently. The intern must have the ability to multitask, must be comfortable working with the public and elementary-age students, must have strong written and oral communication skills, and must pass a background check.

The project begins January 2024 and runs through April 2024.
Students must register for 3-credit hours of internship through their home departments. The internship requires working 8-10 hours per week. At least one on-site shift is required each week for the duration of this internship, to be scheduled with the community partner to meet their needs.

The internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

Site Supervisor: Tracy Heightchew, Community Relations

Project Summary:
The LFPL social media internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in the field of nonprofit/educational/library marketing and content creation. The intern will develop a social media campaign based on market trends while meeting the needs of a Louisville-centric public institution.

Internship Goals:
The intern will work directly under the supervision of LFPL’s social media manager. Together they will develop a social media campaign for the library to be determined based on both the interests of the intern and the needs of the library. The intern will learn about the entire LFPL system, currently consisting of 17 branches throughout Louisville, and the multitude of services the library provides. The intern will develop writing, photography, and videography skills as they create content to be posted on LFPL’s social media accounts. They will learn market standards and best practices in the library and government fields, and develop a content portfolio

Learning Objectives:
The intern will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the following areas: library/nonprofit/educational marketing, specifically content creation for digital platforms, photography, videography, and copywriting, best practices according to governmental policies and procedures, and team building.

Knowledge, Training, and Skills:
This internship is ideal for students interested in nonprofit and institutional marketing, digital content creation, and library work. The intern does not need to have prior experience working in libraries but should have a working knowledge of social media platforms. Most importantly, an enthusiasm for creative work and new ideas is required. The intern will work alongside LFPL’s social media manager and the larger Community Relations department and will collaborate on social media campaigns that the team will develop together.

The project begins January 2024 and runs through April 2024.
Students must register for 3-credit hours of internship through their home departments. The internship requires working 8-10 hours per week. At least one on-site shift is required each week for the duration of this internship, to be scheduled with the community partner to meet their needs.

The internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

CCHS has the opportunity to create additional internships this year, and we are happy to support possibilities that students develop with a range of Louisville cultural partners. If you already have or if you develop an internship with a Louisville arts and culture partner, you can apply.

Applications for the individualized internship require the standard CCHS internship information (see website for examples, https://louisville.edu/cchs/student-internships/apply):

  • Faculty Mentor for Internship Credit hours
  • Site Supervisor
  • Internship Goals
  • Learning Objectives

Students must register for 3-credit hours of internship through their home departments. The internship requires working 8-10 hours per week. At least one on-site shift is required each week for the duration of this internship, to be scheduled with the community partner to meet their needs.

The internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

Deadline to apply is November 16, 2023.

To apply, send your CV or resume to:

Brandon J. Harwood, Ph.D
Commonwealth Center for Humanities and Society & Department of Philosophy
417 Stevenson Hall
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Louisville
Email: