Public Humanities Internship Program

About the Public Humanities Internship

Now in its third year, the Public Humanities Internship is a paid internship program that provides 8 selected undergraduate students at the University of Michigan with the unique opportunity to participate in the life of the Institute for the Humanities. Interns, under the direction of the assistant director for undergraduate student engagement & marketing, meet with faculty, curators, staff, visiting artists, and other members of our community to explore humanities topics and ideas. They then turn those conversations into humanities-related programs and events geared toward undergraduate students. Interns are paid $18/hour.

Past intern-organized projects include:

• Parable Paint Night and Octavia’s Spaces in Community Places Scavenger Hunt, organized as part of the Institute’s Octavia Butler Week

• Don’t Swipe, in conjunction with an exhibition in the Institute for the Humanities Gallery

• Afrofuture Bingo, organized as part of the Institute’s Humanities Afrofutures month

• Humanities Career Panel

• Humanities-focused newsletter for humanities majors

• Film screening of Sarafina for South African Human Rights Day. 

Through this internship, you will:

• Increase your understanding of public scholarship and of the contribution of the humanities to the cultivation of a just and equitable society

• Increase your understanding of how humanities knowledge and skills from within the university can be applied outside the university 

• Develop teamwork skills as you work collaboratively with the other interns on projects

• Acquire leadership experience (each intern will be mentored to take the lead on at least one project)

• Gain skills in event planning and promotion, from concept to realization

• Learn how to develop and carry out a successful event marketing plan.

Time Commitment:

• This internship is a valuable, interesting, and fun learning experience. It is also a job that requires a professional commitment to the program and your peer interns. As such, interns are expected to prioritize the internship over other extracurricular activities and employment.

• Interns must be available Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm to attend the weekly group meetings

• In addition to the weekly 2-hour group meeting, each intern works 5-8 hours per week in person at the Institute for the Humanities

• Interns attend and run all events and programs organized by the Public Humanities Interns (with the exception of time conflicts with a class) 

• Each intern attends and works at 2 Institute for the Humanities events (not organized by the interns) per semester

• This internship runs from September 2023 - April 2024. Students who are considering studying abroad in either semester are not eligible; students must be in residence both semesters of the academic year.

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate student with junior or senior status in fall of 2023

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Interest in public programming and the humanities

• Recommendation from a previous employer or internship supervisor (e.g., restaurant manager, campus job supervisor, etc.).

To apply, submit the following by May 12, 2023:

• Application Form.

• Attach your resume to the application form. Please do not submit a cover letter; the application form serves as your cover letter.

• The application form includes questions about your recommender. We will send them instructions.

Important Dates:

• Applications are due May 12, 2023 

• Semi-finalists will be notified by May 26, 2023 

• Semi-finalist Zoom interviews will take place May 26 - June 9, 2023 

• Finalists will be notified and offer letters sent by June 23, 2023.