Call for Applications: Humanities EXPLORE Research Fellowship with History Professor Grace Peña Delgado and Filmmaker Joseph Mathew–2025-2026
BORDER FUTURES: Undergraduates Reimagining the US-Mexico Boundary through Film, Research, and Community-Humanitarian Engagement (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 18, 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: 10–20 hours/week
Pay: $20/hour
Mentorship: Regular check-ins and support from Grace Peña Delgado (History)
About the project
Border Futures is a hands-on undergraduate research initiative that combines documentary filmmaking, oral history, and direct community engagement at the U.S.–Mexico border. Through the EXPLORE Fellowship, students investigate immigrant experiences and media portrayals while working with filmmaker Joseph Mathew or humanitarian organizations like the Green Valley Samaritans, No More Deaths, and Borderlands Community Alliance, among others.
What You’ll Do
As part of the Border Futures initiative, EXPLORE Fellows will help produce two major outcomes: a public-facing history book (Two Sisters, One Land) and a documentary film critiquing anti-immigrant narratives in media. Along the way, students will develop hands-on skills in oral history, archival research, and documentary filmmaking. Working with faculty mentors and community partners, Fellows will learn to interview, write, film, edit, and share real stories from the border—building research, media, and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of immigration, media bias, and cultural exchange.
- Archival Research (30%): Fellows locate/evaluate primary and secondary sources, manage digital files, and maintain accurate citations. They collaborate closely with faculty to contextualize findings.
- Humanitarian Engagement (35%): Fellows volunteer with nonprofits, assisting with intake procedures, organizing supplies, and documenting observations for both manuscript and film. Direct exposure to migrant experiences fosters cultural competence and reflective community engagement.
- Publication and Production Tasks (30%): Fellows help draft Two Sisters, One Land, edit interviews, and synthesize field notes. They also assist the documentary crew with interview scheduling, pre-production logistics, and light editing.
- 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)
- You are curious and eager to learn.
- You have strong communication skills.
- You are open to working collaboratively in a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- You may have some experience with research methods, like basic library or archival work, or media production work (helpful but not required).
- You may speak Spanish (a plus, but not required).
- You are open to learning new skills—no prior experience in interviewing or documentary work is expected.
- You will receive training and support in ethical interviewing, documentary production, cross-cultural communication, and archival methods.
What You’ll Learn
In every phase, student researchers will be guided toward professional growth, learning how to engage with community partners, maintain clear and accurate records, and refine written and audiovisual presentations. By the end of the project, Fellows will have gained valuable research and media production expertise and a deeper understanding of cultural dynamics, policy impact, and the human stories at the heart of border communities.
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
- What you are interested in pursuing: either book research or film research
- Address your letter to Dr. Grace Peña Delgado and Mr. Joseph Mathew
Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.
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:
