Call for Applications: Humanities EXCEL Fellowship with the MAH – Assistant Archives & Programs Coordinator 2024-2025

This role is open to work-study and non-work-study students. This role requires work authorization.

Application Deadline: October 13, 2024

The Humanities Division and The Humanities Institute are excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH).

The Humanities Experiential Career Exploration and Learning (EXCEL) Program connects Humanities majors and minors to organizations in the community for paid internships. In this cohort program, EXCEL Fellows gain practical experience and professional training while learning about positions outside of the university that build on their studies in the humanities. At the same time, community partner organizations benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise. EXCEL Fellowships carry on the success of THI’s Public Fellows program, and they foster positive collaborations between the campus and community, demonstrating the value of a Humanities degree for a range of careers.

About the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) is a thriving community gathering place that offers rotating art and history exhibitions, visual and performing artworks, public festivals, education and outreach programs, and cultural celebrations in collaboration with our many partners.

Position Description: Assistant Archives & Programs Coordinator, MAH Exhibitions & Programs

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Support the development and execution of a diverse range of exhibition-related and community programs [20%]
• Creation of promotional materials for programs [10%]
• Engage with the community through outreach, hosting MAH pop-up booths at Farmer’s Markets and community events. [20%]
• Scan or photograph original records, which include textual records, photographs, or oversized objects from MAH Archival Collections [10%]
• Prepare records for digitization through holdings maintenance actions such as sleeving torn documents, removing staples, and rearranging records. [5%]
• Create associated metadata, based on archival standards, for upload into the online catalog [10%]
• Catalog items in the the MAH’s CMS (Past Perfect) [15%]
• Hold weekly check-in meetings with Jessie to discuss progress and work tasks [10%]
• Availability to occasionally support weekend and evening events
• Work collaboratively with MAH staff.

You’re an ideal candidate if:

• You are a declared major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division and are in good academic standing. If you are currently proposed, you can declare by the end of the academic year in June. [required]
• You have work authorization. [required]
• You have some digital media experience
• You have experience with databases and spreadsheets
• You have experience designing using Canva
• You can do repetitive tasks
• You are interested in public history, art, creativity, engagement, and curatorial practices.
• You are interested in archival science, library science, digital preservation, and digital asset management
• You are dependable
• You can work independently
• You are comfortable interacting with the public
• You regularly use Google Calendar to manage your schedule
• You are bilingual in Spanish (a bonus but not required)

Internship Term: November 2024–June 2025

Hours: 10-20 hours per week, working around your class schedule

Compensation: $20/hour

Location: The Assistant Coordinator will be expected to work onsite at the MAH for most of their hours but may work some hours from home, in agreement with their supervisor(s). The location is 705 Front St., in downtown Santa Cruz.

Mentorship: The Assistant Coordinator will work closely with Marla Novo, the MAH’s Exhibitions & Programs Director, Tahnee Henningson, the Programs Coordinator, Jessie Durant, the Archives Specialist; and other staff on the MAH’s Exhibitions & Programs team. The partner supervisor(s) will delegate tasks and review your work, provide coaching, and help you understand what working in this field is like. You will meet to check in at least once per week.

Apply By Submitting

1. Your updated resume
2. A short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why are you interested in this position? How does your academic expertise and skillset prepare you for this role? What are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?  
   1. Additional questions to consider: What are some ways you have worked in the public history field? If you haven’t, what intrigues you about the possibility? What are some exciting ways you have thought about how one might engage local communities through historical programming?

REVIEW these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate!

• Address your cover letter to the MAH team.

Once the application window closes on Sunday, October 13 at 11:59 pm, there will be an interview process with top candidates. This job is expected to start by early November.

APPLY NOW

Note: There are two Humanities EXCEL Fellowships at the MAH – you can find out more about the Assistant Education Coordinator position here.

Please contact the EXPLORE Program coordinator, Kylie Rachwalski, at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.

The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, and the UCSC Humanities Division generously support the Humanities EXCEL Program.