Meet the Interns

Commonwealth Center for the Humanities and Society (CCHS)

Meet the Interns

The Commonwealth Center for Humanities and Society strongly encourages students to pursue hands-on learning through its internships with our regional Arts and Culture Partners. Education should not be confined to the campus. Internships allow students to develop relationships with Louisville's most important cultural institutions, acquire crucial skills, and gain experience that prepares them for professional life after graduation.

Spring 2023 Interns

In the Spring 2023 semester, the CCHS has facilitated the placement of interns at The Filson Historical Society, Frazier History Museum, and Locust Grove. Each internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

 Joshua Keown, Education and Interpretations Internship at Locust Grove, site supervisor Carol Ely, Executive Director of Locust Grove.
 Zachary Keown, Digital Collections Internship at the Filson Historical Society, site supervisor - Hannah O'Daniel McCallon, Curator of Digital Collections at the Filson Historical Society.
 Ashleigh Roth, Museum Collections Internship at the Filson Historical Society, site supervisors are Maureen Lane, Curator of Museum Collections and Exhibit Coordinator, and Brooks Vessels, Assistant Museum Curator, and Exhibits Designer at the Filson Historical Society.
 Nova Villier, Education Internship at the Frazier History Museum, site supervisor Heather Gotlib, Director of Education and Outreach at the Frazier History Museum.

Spring 2022 Interns

In the Spring 2022 semester, the CCHS has facilitated the placement of interns at The Filson Historical Society and the Frazier History Museum. Each internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

 Ansel Combs, Fine Arts Major and Creative Writing Minor, received Digital Collections Internship at the Filson Historical Society and worked closely with his site supervisor, Danielle Spalenka, an Associate Curator of Digital Collections.
 Lucy Wedding graduate student in Critical and Curatorial Studies, spent this spring at the Frazier History Museum as an Education Intern under the supervision of Ms. Heather Gotlib, Director of Education and Outreach.
 Jade Wiglesworth Art History Major and Fine Arts Minor, examined Native American Collections at the Filson Historical Society and worked with her supervisor Kelly Hyberger, Native American Collections Specialist.

Spring 2021 Interns

In the Spring 2021 semester, the CCHS has facilitated the placement of interns at The Filson Historical Society and the Frazier History Museum. Each internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

 Abigail Briney, Major in Art History and minoring in French and Management. Here she is holding a self-portrait of the photographer, Paul Gunter in the Filson Historical Society's collection. Her site supervisor is Ms. Heather Potter, Curator of Photographs at the Filson.
 Nicole Clay is pursuing a degree in Public History. She is working as an Education Intern at the Frazier History Museum. Her site supervisor is Ms. Heather Gotlib, Director of Education and Outreach at the Frazier History Museum.
 Chelsea Giovacchino is a graduate student pursuing her MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities. This semester, she is doing a research internship at Filson Historical Society “Mapping Jewish Louisville.” She is pictured here with a Filson member's meeting log from 1860-1870 for a Louisville Jewish Lodge called the B'nai B'rith. Her site supervisor is Dr. Abby Glogower, Curator of Jewish Collections at the Filson Historical Society  
 Alanna Parham is a Major in Liberal Studies, Minor in Arts Studio. This spring she worked as a Digital Collections Intern at the Filson Historical Society. Her site supervisor is Associate Curator of Digital Collections at the Filson, Danielle Spalenka.

Spring 2020 Interns

In the Spring 2020 semester, the CCHS has facilitated the placement of interns at The Filson Historical Society, the Frazier History Museum, the Cave Hill Cemetery, and 21c Museum Hotel. Each internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

 Elise Blankenship, MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies, Collections Management Internship at 21c Museum Hotel.
 Elizabeth Dennis, History major and Archeology Minor, Research Assistant Internship at Cave Hill Cemetery.
 Caitlin Hogue, History Major and Minor in Art History and Economics, Museum Collections Internship at the Filson Historical Society.
 Emma Johansen, History Major and LBGTQ Minor, Digital Collections Internship, The Filson Historical Society.
 Rachid Taqoulla, MFA in Photography, Photograph Collections Internship at the Filson Historical Society.
 Emily Tingle, History MA, Educational Services Coordinator at Frazier History Museum.

Spring 2019 Interns

In the Spring 2019 semester, the CCHS has facilitated the placement of interns at The Filson Historical Society, the Frazier History Museum, the Louisville Free Public Library, the Cave Hill Cemetery, the Portland Museum, and a special internship for a collaborative project, "Afloat: An Ohio River Way of Life." Each internship comes with an award of $500 toward tuition.

Elizabeth Standridge at Filson Historical Society

Elizabeth Stanbridge is working with Manuscript Collections at the Filson Historical Society.

Testimonial:

"As a Commonwealth Center for Humanities and Society intern at the Filson Historical Society during the Spring of 2019 I was able to work with professional archivists learning the ins and outs of archival work. I worked under the direct supervision of the Associate Curator of Collections, from whom I learned fundamental archival practices and how to process collections. I had the unique opportunity of helping to process several fascinating collections including a diary from the 1830s, a civil rights activist’s papers, and a family’s postcard collection that spanned over fifty years- to name a few. My internship at the Filson provided me with hands-on experience with archival material, as well as invaluable professional advice and I look forward to being able to continue as an intern in the Fall!" ~Elizabeth Stanbridge

Cassidy Meuer at Filson Historical Society

Cassidy Meurer has an internship at the Photographic Archives of the Filson Historical Society.

Testimonial:

"I am a senior this year at the University of Louisville. I am a BFA candidate in Photography and Printmaking, as well as an English major with an interest in creative writing. My scholarship is heavily influenced by historic processes, documentation, and the translation of perspective and storytelling, so having the opportunity to work as the Photograph Collections Intern at the Filson Historical Society has been the perfect introduction to understanding how all of my passions can translate into a professional setting outside of my education. For the past four months, I have been working with Heather Potter, the Photograph and Print Curator at the Filson, on cataloging the Filson’s massive photograph collection. I have gained a greater understanding and appreciation for archival practices through this process, learning how to properly rehouse and preserve visual materials, as well as how to file the collections in an appropriate way so that in the future, researchers will have easy access to the materials, either online or in person. Because of my interests in curatorial studies in addition to visual material cataloguing, Heather allowed me to have a hand in the curatorial process as she prepared to open the recent exhibition on Enid Yandell. I was able to witness a great deal of the planning and preparation that goes into curating an exhibition, as well as offer some hands-on help by contributing to the selection the materials to be included, image resizing, graphic design, and organization. The show opened June 7, which is after my internship formally ended, but I returned as a volunteer to help with the installation and to see this process through the end. Looking forward to post-graduation, my experience at the Filson has definitely opened my eyes to potential career paths. I have fallen in love with the work I am doing here, and I am considering pursuing these practices at a graduate level. I am so proud of the work that I’ve done thus far at the Filson and I cannot wait to return in the coming Fall semester as an intern to continue the cataloging process." ~Cassidy Meurer

Olivia Raymond at the Portland Museum Olivia Raymond's internship at the Portland Museum focuses on Oral History project.
Bailey O'Leary at Portland Museum Bailey O'Leary assists in Portland Museum's Operations and Management.
Sam Dunn (left) at Frazier History Museum Samuel Dunn's internship focuses on Public Engagement and Programming at the Frazier History Museum.
Mason Strange (right) at Cave Hill Cemetary Mason Strange is conducting research on notable people of the Cave Hill Cemetery and compiling information for tours and exhibits.
Jakia Marie (center) at LFPL

Jakia Marie is working at the Louisville Free Public Library on programming for immigrant and refugees communities. 

Testimonial:

"An internship is meant to provide an experience where one utilizes their knowledge and skills in a practical way. Working with the Iroquois Library provides much more. I had the opportunity to work with the Iroquois Library as the African Immigrant and Refugee Programming Intern. In this position, I was able to combine by knowledge gained in Anthropology and Pan-African Studies and put them into practice. I was able to assist the library with their weekly programming and other community outreach, and I was also able to learn about myself. My primary duties were supporting the English Conversation Club because it is the most popular program on Saturdays. I also provided support at other library programs and various community events. Working with such a diverse population helped me grow as an individual and global citizen. I was able to learn more about the experiences of others from around the world and reflect on how my positionality impacts them and their daily lives. This internship has helped me learn how to be a better community member, and I have learned more about the needs of others and strategies to support our international community in Louisville. Anyone who wants to be challenged to be a part of something bigger than themselves while making a positive, direct impact in the community should highly consider interning with the Iroquois Library. The value of this experience cannot be fully articulated with words, but the impact of this internship can never be forgotten." ~Jakia Marie

 Matt Mooser's internship focuses on a community-wide collaborative project, "Afloat: An Ohio River Way of Life."  

Spring 2017 Interns

Treva Hodges, UofL student Treva Hodges is pursuing her Ph.D. in Humanities and graduate certificate in Public History and Women & Gender Studies. This semester Treva has internship at Filson Historical Society and working on several archival projects with Jennifer Cole, Associate Curator of Special Collections.
 Kelly Morris is pursuing her Ph.D. in Humanities and has been awarded Collections Management Internship at Filson Historical Society. Together with Jim Holmberg, Curator of Collections, Kelly is doing research on manuscripts and photographs.
 Nicole Buller is finishing her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts and Marketing. Nicole has been awarded Collections Management Internship at Louisville Metro Public Art this semester. Under the supervision of Sarah Lindgren, Public Art Administrator, Nicole researching art objects, gathering site data, writing texts, and participating in outreach initiatives.
 Sarah McCoy is completing her undergraduate degree in History. Sarah has been awarded Museum Education Internship at Historic Locust Grove. Sarah is working with Mary Beth Williams, Curator of Collections and Education, and assisting in educational outreach programs for K-5 and cross-training as a docent to give public tours.
 Shelby Florenceis pursuing her undergraduate degree in History. Florence has been awarded Collections and Preservation Internship at The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind. Under the supervision of Mike Hudson, Executive Director, and Anne Rich, who is Collections Manager, Sarah is working on a large collection of historical photographs, primarily documenting the past 100 years of production at APH.

Spring 2016 Interns

Tiffany Caesars—Locust Grove 

What was it like to be a slave at the historic Locust Grove, built in 1790 and where pioneer and Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark resided in the last years of his life? Tiffany Caesars research yielded two original short plays performed during her internship at the home. The experience opened my eyes to how performance could be combined with history to make the past come alive, said Caesar, a 2010 masters student in Pan-African studies.

Brandon Reintjes—Speed Art Museum of Art and Culture 

Now curator of art at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture at The University of Montana in Missoula, Brandon Reintjes credits his internship at the Speed Art Museum with a vital role in determining his career. The 2009 masters degree graduate in critical and curatorial Studies packed a diverse range of projects from writing exhibition text to constructing 13-foot high walls. It was far from dull, said Reintjes, who worked on projects with various departments throughout the museum.

Christian Potter—Asia Institute—Crane House

Christian Potter combined language skills, interest in Asian film and social networking talents to produce one of the most successful Asian Film Series ever for the Crane House and UofL in his internship. They made me feel like part of a dedicated team, Potter said. I was able to see the direct impacts of my work as they fit in a nonprofit organization and within my community. A 2010 graduate, Potter is coordinating Crane Houses Teaching in Asia program and plans to move to China to teach English.