Public Humanities Internship Program

About the Public Humanities Internship

The Public Humanities Internship is a paid internship program that provides 8 selected undergraduate students at the University of Michigan with the unique opportunity to participate in the life of the Institute for the Humanities.Interns interact with each other as well as faculty fellows, graduate student fellows, staff, visiting scholars and artists, and other members of our community to explore humanities topics and ideas. They then turn those conversations into humanities-related programs and events geared toward undergraduate students. Interns work 7 hours/week and are paid $18/hour.

Past Intern-Organized Projects

• Humanities at Michigan newsletter
• Humanities and Medicine event with U-M alumnus Dusting Cummings (2006 BA in French and biology; 2012 MPH and MD)
• Humanities Career Panel featuring alumni at Google, U-M, the DIA, Union for Reform Judaism, and more
• Expressive Arts & Social Change event featuring U-M faculty
• Humanities Trivia Night. What is the official language of Algeria? Where is the Van Gogh Museum located?
• Collaging the Future hands-on workshop inspired by the art of Rashaad Newsome

Benefits of a Public Humanities Internship

• Real-World Application of Humanities Skills – Discover how humanities knowledge and critical thinking apply to professional and community settings beyond the classroom.
• Collaborative Experience – Work closely with a team of fellow interns to design and execute meaningful humanities-related projects.
• Leadership Development – Take ownership of at least one project or event, building confidence in decision-making, problem-solving, and project management.
• Event Planning & Execution – Gain hands-on experience in organizing, coordinating, and hosting events, from initial concept to successful implementation.
• Marketing & Outreach Skills – Learn how to develop and implement effective promotional strategies for events, including social media engagement, digital marketing, and audience outreach.

Commitment & Availability

• This internship is a valuable, interesting, and fun learning experience. It is also a job that requires a professional commitment to the program and your peer interns. As such, interns are expected to prioritize the internship over other extracurricular activities and employment.
• Must be available Wednesday evenings from 6-8 PM for weekly group dinner meetings.
• Able to commit 7 hours per week (2 hours for the group meeting + 5 hours in person at the Institute for the Humanities).
• Interns attend and participate in intern-organized events and programs.
• Interns attend and assist at two Institute for the Humanities events per semester (separate from intern-organized events).
• Willingness to take the lead on at least one project/event during the internship.

Eligibility & Academic Requirements

• Must be a rising junior or senior at the University of Michigan during 2025-26.
• Must be in residence for the entire academic year (September 2025 – April 2026) (students studying abroad during this period are ineligible).
• Open to students from all majors, but a strong interest in the humanities is required.

Skills & Qualifications (i.e., what we’re looking for)

• Strong interest in the humanities and in exploring their relevance beyond the classroom.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing engaging humanities-related events and programs.
• Strong organizational and event-planning skills (prior experience is a plus but not required).
• Reliability and professionalism in meeting commitments and deadlines.
• Interest in marketing and event promotion, including social media, newsletters, and outreach strategies
• Recommendation from a previous employer or internship supervisor (e.g., restaurant manager, campus job supervisor, etc.).

Intern Perks

• Weekly dinner at the Wednesday evening group meetings
• Get paid to attend humanities events
• 24/7 access to interns' shared office 
• Networking opportunities with faculty & graduate student fellows, visiting artists and scholars, and more. 

To apply, submit the following by May 18, 2025

• Application Form.
• Attach your resume and cover letter as one PDF to the application form.
• The application form includes questions about your recommender. We will send them instructions.

Important Dates

• Applications are due May 18, 2025.
• Semi-finalists will be notified by June 13, 2025
• Semi-finalist Zoom interviews will take place June 18 - July 2, 2025
• Finalists will be notified and offer letters will be sent by July 16, 2025.