Call for Applications: Humanities EXPLORE Research Fellowship with Professor Kathleen Gutierrez–2025-2026

Saritaan: Filipino and Filipino American Stories – a Watsonville is in the Heart project (History)

We encourage work-study and non-work-study students to apply. This internship is only open to undergraduate students with a declared or proposed Humanities major or minor and requires work authorization.

Application Deadline: May 30, 2025

The Humanities Experiential Learning Opportunities in Research (EXPLORE) Program connects undergraduate Humanities majors and minors with faculty-led projects in the division for paid research positions. Fellows gain valuable mentorship and practical experience.

Details

Duration: Academic Year 2025–26

Hours: 5-10 hours/week (1 day per week)

Pay: $20/hour

Mentorship: Regular check-ins and support from Professor Kathleen Gutierrez (History) and Dr. Meleia Simon-Reynolds (History; Center for Southeast Asian Coastal Interactions)

About the project

This project is a continuation of Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH)--a community archive and research initiative. Students will join a bi-national, community-engaged research team documenting Filipino and Filipino American migration and agrarian history. The project involves oral history collection, digital archiving, and preparing for a traveling exhibition. Work includes collaboration with the community and international partners.

Three global objectives guide our initiative: (1) to enhance our existing archive with primary material on agrarian life and historical migration from the Ilocos region; (2) to cultivate and deepen relationships with Ilocos-based partners; and (3) to expand the experiential learning of Philippine-based and UCSC students through humanistic research. EXPLORE fellows will be provided the opportunity to travel to the Philippines to conduct research with the WIITH team during July 2026.

What You’ll Do

Three Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH) researchers will have the following duties:

25% Digital archiving
- Gain facility in Omeka digital archiving platform
- Assist in editing and revising existing family collections on the WIITH Digital Archive
- Assist in creating and uploading new family collections on the WIITH Digital Archive
- Participate in local digital archiving among Filipino American community, as needed
- Train in digital archiving methods for Philippine context
25% Oral history interviewing
- Learn the fundamental ethics of oral history interviewing
- Practice oral history interviewing and best practices
- Conduct local oral history interviews as needed
- Transcribe oral history interviews, as needed
- Train in oral history interviewing for the Philippine context
15% Context training for July 2026 research trip to the Ilocos Region
- Participate in one-hour weekly reading discussions among the EXPLORE cohort
- Read the assigned literature on the Philippines' history, the Ilocos Region, and international migration
- Engage in literature discussions by raising questions, facilitating readings, and sharing insights
15% Training alongside Philippines-based cohort
- Attend two-hour Zoom monthly sessions (likely latter part of the day to accommodate time difference)
- Read the assigned literature on oral history, digital archiving, and local Pajaro Valley history for group discussion
- Engage in literature discussions by raising questions, facilitating readings, and sharing insights
10% Training alongside community-based researchers
- Attend 1-hour monthly preparation meetings with community-based researchers (2), who will participate in July 2026 research trip
- Read assigned literature on community-engaged research, international research, and Philippines history
- Participate in logistics discussions and pre-travel goal setting
5% Administrative duties
- Practice and use Google Suite for all WIITH coordination, including Gmail, Calendar, Documents, and Drive
- Use Slack for day-to-day communication among researchers and mentors
- Send email communication to UCSC partners, Philippines-based cohort, and community partners
- Participate in one-on-one check-ins with mentors to assess growth and goals over the academic year
5% Local Filipino American community events
- Attend community events addressing Filipino concerns and interests organized by local community partners, including The Tobera Project, Cabrillo College, the Museum of Art and History, and Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Table with literature on WIITH
- Lead activities, such as presentations and interactive games
20% Digital archiving
- Gain facility in Omeka digital archiving platform
- Assist in editing and revising existing family collections on the WIITH Digital Archive
- Assist in creating and uploading new family collections on the WIITH Digital Archive
- Participate in local digital archiving among Filipino American community, as needed
- Train in digital archiving methods for Philippine context
15% Oral history interviewing
- Learn the fundamental ethics of oral history interviewing
- Practice oral history interviewing and best practices
- Conduct local oral history interviews, as needed
- Train in oral history interviewing for Philippine context
15% Media responsibilities
- Moderate WIITH Instagram page
- Take photographs of training sessions, research in the field (locally), and events
- Post regularly (at least 1/week) to feature WIITH progress, upcoming events, and researcher profiles
- Design flyers and other media in Adobe suite and Canva for public sharing
15% Context training for July 2026 research trip to the Ilocos Region
- Participate in one-hour weekly reading discussions among EXPLORE cohort
- Read assigned literature on Philippines history, the Ilocos Region, international migration
- Engage in literature discussions by raising questions, facilitating readings, and sharing insights
15% Training alongside Philippines-based cohort
- Attend two-hour Zoom monthly sessions (likely later part of the day to accommodate time difference)
- Read assigned literature on oral history, digital archiving, and local Pajaro Valley history for group discussion
- Engage in literature discussions by raising questions, facilitating readings, and sharing insights
10% Training alongside community-based researchers
- Attend 1-hour monthly preparation meetings with community-based researchers (2), who will participate in July 2026 research trip
- Read assigned literature on community-engaged research, international research, and Philippines history
- Participate in logistics discussions and pre-travel goal setting
5% Administrative duties
- Practice and use Google Suite for all WIITH coordination, including Gmail, Calendar, Documents, and Drive
- Use Slack for day-to-day communication among researchers and mentors
- Send email communication to UCSC partners, Philippines-based cohort, and community partners
5% Local Filipino American community events
- Attend community events addressing Filipino concerns and interests organized by local community partners, including The Tobera Project, Cabrillo College, the Museum of Art and History, and Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Table with literature on WIITH
- Lead activities, such as presentations and interactive games
Humanities EXPLORE Programming (5%): Attend a quarterly meeting when possible and participate in asynchronous Canvas experiential learning reflection.

Eligibility & Qualifications

You must be a declared or proposed major or minor in a Humanities Division department and have good academic standing. If proposed, declare by June.
- Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
You have work authorization (required)
You can work independently and collaboratively (required)
Ability to travel internationally (Philippines)
Ability to travel locally (Pajaro Valley/Bay Area) (no driver's license required; bus transit acceptable)
Expertise in the Google Suite, especially Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
Expertise in Adobe Suite
Strong communication skills and ability to initiate email and phone communication with internal team members and external parties
Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented with the ability to meet and communicate deadlines
Enjoys working in team-based and collaborative environments
Confident and comfortable with public speaking

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

Knowledge in or willingness to learn Philippine and Filipino American history
Knowledge or willingness to learn oral history interviewing
Knowledge or willingness to learn digital archiving
Knowledge or willingness to learn Canva
Knowledge or willingness to learn how to navigate Omeka
Experience working in community-engaged research settings
Experience working in international contexts
Experience working with intergenerational teams
Experience with public speaking and/or facilitating public events

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities of "WIITH Researcher & Media Intern"

Ability to travel internationally (Philippines)
Ability to travel locally (Pajaro Valley/Bay Area) (no driver's license required; bus transit acceptable)
Expertise in social media posting and communications
Excellence in written communication skills
Expertise in the Google Suite especially Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
Expertise in Adobe Suite
Expertise in Canva
Strong communication skills and ability to initiate email and phone communication with internal team members and external parties
Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented with the ability to meet and communicate deadlines
Enjoys working in team-based and collaborative environments
Confident and comfortable with public speaking

What You’ll Learn

As a WIITH Researcher, you’ll gain hands-on experience in qualitative research, build strong communication skills, and collaborate with local and international partners. You'll learn to collect and analyze oral histories, synthesize research for public audiences, and use digital tools like Omeka, Google Suite, Slack, and Adobe to organize and share your work.

How To Apply

Updated resume
1-page cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in this role
- How your background and skills apply
- What you hope to gain from the experience
Address your letter to Professor Kathleen Gutierrez and Dr. Meleia Simon-ReynoldsAddress your letter to Professor Kathleen Gutierrez and Dr. Meleia Simon-Reynolds

Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.

APPLY NOW

Questions? Email Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu

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

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct: