Call for Applications: Humanities EXPLORE Research Fellowship with Dr. Jennifer Mogannam – 2025-2026

Archiving Movement: UC Campus Activism in a Time of Genocide (CRES)

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 19, 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: 10 hours/week

Pay: $20/hour

Mentorship: Regular check-ins and support from Dr. Jennifer Mogannam (CRES)

About the project

This project documents recent student activism across UC campuses, with a focus on Palestine solidarity movements and the risks students have faced for speaking out, ranging from censorship to police intervention and even deportation threats. Drawing from the history of Ethnic Studies and student-led resistance, we aim to build a digital and physical archive that captures this powerful moment of campus organizing.

Students working on this project will gain hands-on experience with archival research, digital humanities, and oral history interviews. You’ll be trained in methods for collecting and preserving activist narratives and materials—skills that are valuable for academic, nonprofit, and public history work. This is a chance to help build a people-centered archive that ensures student voices are heard and remembered.

What You’ll Do

Students will be trained in interdisciplinary research methods, including collecting digital archives and contacting UC student activists. They’ll help format and populate a secure project website (not yet public) and later learn how to conduct oral history interviews. Students will help design interview questions and choose appropriate tools collectively.

Training and check-ins with the faculty PI: 20%
Archival collection via social media: 30%
Outreach to students for archival contributions: 20%
Conducting oral history interviews: 30%
Humanities EXPLORE Programming: 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)
- You’re eager to learn and can be trained in archival and oral history research.
- You can engage with social justice–oriented and community-based research practices.
- You have experience with or interest in humanities research (preferred, but not required).
- You can navigate social media platforms to help collect digital materials.
- You have basic knowledge of digital tools and platforms (preferred).
- You have some experience with website building or editing (a plus).
- You have Arabic language skills (a plus).
- You can edit or are interested in learning to edit audio and video content (a big plus).
- You can communicate respectfully and clearly with diverse communities.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll get hands-on experience with community-based, social justice-oriented research—from collecting archives and conducting interviews to curating and presenting the work in creative, digital formats. You’ll learn to engage with research subjects ethically, use tech tools for data collection and storytelling, and apply interdisciplinary methods to real-world issues.

These skills are valuable for academic paths, nonprofit work, and any research, media, or community engagement career.

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 Dr. Jennifer Mogannam

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: