Meet our summer 2021 interns! We look forward to sharing some of the great work they have been doing at the museum. Applications for fall internships are now open.
Amanda Lee, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
“My name is Amanda Lee (they/them), and I am currently going into my 5th year at Cal Poly SLO as an architecture student with a minor in art history. I got the chance to work with the Phillips briefly in the spring and am excited to be here again. This summer I will be working with Yolanda Hester in the DEAI Department, and am looking forward to learning more about how to implement DEAI initiatives to improve the future of museums. I am hoping that I can use what I learn this summer as inspiration for my thesis next year. I have worked on a variety of tasks such as editing an internal newsletter to collecting information on the Phillips’s partnerships and internships. Eventually I will be assisting with the Training, Development, and Learning series for staff. I have really enjoyed working with my cohorts and learning about how the museum industry functions. This internship has also inspired me to help shift the way museums operate by implementing DEAI goals to improve the role of museums in our society moving forward.”
Billie Smith, Cornell University
“My name is Billie Smith (they/them), and I am a student at the School of Hotel Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Human Resources at Cornell University. I am a DC native with a passion for social justice organizations and non-profit organizations. I am looking forward to gaining some valuable work experience at The Phillips Collection. I am also excited to work on social media projects and training development. Through this internship, I hope to learn a lot about my own interests and how different departments solve problems. This summer, I am working as a Rotations Intern in Various Departments under DEAI Manager Yolanda Hester. First, I spent time with Community Engagement to introduce kids to art though nature sketches and stamp making. Next, I spent time with the Archival department to help with the file digitization process of historical letters. I got the opportunity to work with the Conservation Department on mural maintenance and recording the conditions of incoming art installations. My time at the Phillips has opened my eyes to the beauty of the museum industry. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a dynamic group of people.”
Ellie Benedict, American University
“My name is Ellie Benedict (she/her), and I am a graduate student at American University in the Arts Management program. My focus in this program is on funding and fundraising for the arts, so I am exceedingly excited to be The Phillips Collection’s Director’s Office Major Gifts Intern this summer. I am working with Emily Doll and Caitlin Hoerr in the Development & Director’s Office Department. I want to see everything about what a campaign looks like for a museum like the Phillips. I am also the Business Manager for a DIY ceramic art studio in Michigan; I have my own artistic practice which involves ceramic and fiber arts. Besides seeing a campaign in action at a museum of this size, I am looking forward to getting more involved in the local art world through this internship, as well as participating in an organization that uses art activities for social impact. This summer I am working on the Capital Campaign. I am helping the Development Department identify potential donors, reconnect with past art donors, and run VIP events. I am learning so much about how all the departments of a museum work together and I love that I get to see how our patrons’ passion for art becomes support for the museum’s work.”