Our fall interns are finishing up their internships. Learn about what they have been working on over the past three months.
Willa Alexander-Jaffe, The George Washington University
“I recently graduated from The George Washington University in May with a major in art history and a minor in business administration and music. As a Presidential Scholar in the Arts for violin and a member of the Women’s Leadership Program’s Arts and Culture Cohort, I enjoyed exploring all that Washington, DC, had to offer before the pandemic. The Phillips Collection is one of my favorite museums, due to its intimate layout and riveting collection. As the current Education and Community Engagement Intern, I assist with Art & Wellness and Family Programs, as well as support projects related to the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC). My main assignment consists of incorporating musical elements into the Iona Program, an art therapy initiative for seniors with memory impairment and physical challenges. Through research and practice, I recognize the mental benefits of engaging elders with music and fine art. I am passionate about supporting organizations that value scholarship and interpretation, and hope to pursue a career in museum education.”
Miki Beyer, George Mason University
“I’m finally, after nearly eight years of on and off school, finishing my B.A. in painting and minor in photography at George Mason University this fall. My final semester has largely focused on my relationship to my family and building ties to Vietnam as our homeland, but my work for the majority of my undergrad dealt with my identity as a non-binary lesbian. At The Phillips Collection, I get to work closely with my mentor, Miguel Perez, in the Public Programs department. It has been exciting to see how we’ve navigated virtual events and the ways we’ve been able to try to make our programs more accessible. My hope in interning with The Phillips Collection was to learn how to create more accessible art spaces, and the program has allowed me to research and write about whatever topics I valued within a museum space. I’ve been able to focus my time on researching how to create more inclusive leadership within a museum space, and developing a public program proposal to reduce barriers within curatorial practices. My time at The Phillips Collection and working with Miguel has allowed me to be more vocal about my opinions and desires in a workplace and future museums. My mentor has encouraged me to consistently question and challenge how things are done, and it has given me the confidence to continue that beyond this program.”
Paige Miller, College of Charleston
“Hi! My name is Paige Miller and I’m currently based in Charleston, South Carolina, and am interning in the Marketing and Communications department. Especially in a world revolutionized by the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual outreach and communication I feel is more important than ever! I am helping with the website redesign as well as content creating for social media, writing press releases, and pitching events to publications! I’ve been learning a lot and am especially excited to be working with the Community in Focus project, a community effort where the Phillips has invited any and all community members to submit photos of their experience of 2020. Not only are these photos featured in a blog post every week (read more here on the blog), but all the photos submitted will be featured in a special page on our new website. I have learned a lot in the marketing and communications department and have been able to tap into my creative side. Academically, my research interests lie in the study of French art and the intersection of art and business. In May of 2021, I will receive my BA in art history and BS in economics. After graduation, I will be pursuing a graduate degree in art history.”