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Call for Applications: Humanities EXCEL Fellowship with Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History – Exhibitions & Programs Fellow 2025-2026

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 11, 2025

The Humanities Experiential Career Exploration and Learning (EXCEL) Program connects undergraduate Humanities majors and minors with community partners for paid internships. Fellows gain valuable professional experience while exploring potential career paths.

Internship Details

Partner Organization: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History – Learn more on their website.

Location: The Coordinator will be expected to work onsite at the MAH. The location is 705 Front St., in downtown Santa Cruz.

Duration: Academic Year 2025–26

Hours: 10 hours/week

Pay: $20/hour

Mentorship: The Assistant E&P Coordinator will collaborate with the Exhibitions and Programs Team at the MAH. Lead by Marla Novo, Exhibitions & Programs Director, and her team: Tahnee Henningsen, Programs Coordinator; Jessie Durant, Archives Specialist; Oscar Paz, Education & Outreach Manager; Natalie Jenkins, Exhibition Manager; and Shanti Nagwani, Preparator.

What You’ll Do – Exhibitions & Programs

Drawing from your personal experiences, skills, and interests, you will have the opportunity to support and develop the MAH’s overall goals and objectives. Your fellowship will include an array of projects and tasks. Your time will be split between different team members. You will be learning on-the-job skills leading school tours, supporting public programs, and participating in archive projects and exhibitions. You will succeed in this role if you have an open mind, are patient and intentional, and carry a passion for community building.

  • Educational Program Support (30%): Lead and support one school tour weekly (school tours are Tuesday- Thursday, 10 am-12 pm). You will lead one school tour per week with the support of another fellow, volunteer, or MAH staff.
  • Program Development & Execution (25%): Support the development and execution of a diverse range of exhibition-related and community programs at the MAH and in the community. Includes the creation of promotional materials. Events may be on weekends and evenings.
  • Archival CMS Support (15%): Support the transfer of collection documentation from various sources into PastPerfect, the MAH’s Collection Management System. Prepare items for digitization, scan or photograph archival records from MAH archival collections, create metadata for the objects and enter into PastPerfect.
  • Exhibition Support (15%): Work with the MAH Exhibitions team to turn over exhibitions. Assist in the maintenance of exhibitions, tools, equipment, and workspaces. You will learn to install and care for artwork and be guided through the process of making an exhibition from start to finish.
  • Supervision & Goal Setting (10%): Hold check-in meetings with E&P staff to discuss progress and work tasks.
  • Humanities EXCEL Programming (5%): Attend two cohort meetings each quarter 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 available to lead at least one school tour per week, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 9:30 am- 12:30pm.
    • You have some digital media experience, or you are willing to learn.
    • You are interested in education, teaching, public history, art, creativity, and engagement.
    • You are dependable, reliable, and a team player.
    • You can work independently, are organized, and can communicate effectively.
    • You are comfortable interacting with the public
    • You are bilingual in Spanish (a bonus but not required)
    • You regularly use Google Calendar to manage your schedule.

How To Apply

  • Updated resume
  • 1-page cover letter addressing:
    • Why you’re interested in this role and Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (explore their website!)
    • How your background and skills apply
    • What you hope to gain from the experience
  • Address your letter to Oscar Paz, Education & Outreach Manager

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 EXCEL Program.

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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.

  1. “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: