Smithsonian Creates Goucher Prison Education Partnership Alumnae/i Internship

Press release from Goucher College:

December 1, 2020

Through ongoing collaboration between the Smithsonian and the Goucher Prison Education
Partnership (GPEP), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH )
has created a fund to support internships for alumnae/i and former students of GPEP.
The internship offers former GPEP students, Goucher College students formerly incarcerated
in state prison, the opportunity to leverage their educations, building valuable early
career experience.

"We are so thrilled to include GPEP alumni in our intern cohort at the National Museum
of American History! Our internship program supports equitable access to the Smithsonian
and to the museum field by providing workplace-based learning experiences that foster
the professional development of future museum leaders, and we are delighted to provide
this opportunity for GPEP alumni,” says Caroline Fiertz, interns and fellows program
manager, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

While applicants with prior justice system involvement are valued candidates for any
position at the Smithsonian, this internship creates a path for those too often deterred
or excluded from similar opportunities. GPEP students, like the US prison population
more broadly, often come from communities historically and systematically excluded
from educational, economic, and professional opportunity.

This year, five GPEP alumnae/i were selected from a highly competitive pool to participate
in six-month long internships at the museum. GPEP alumnae/i interns receive a specific
project, supportive mentorship from trained staff, access to several museum enrichment
opportunities, livable stipends, as well as the ability to receive credit from their
home institutions.

“We are grateful for this ongoing opportunity to collaborate with the Smithsonian,
to have students’ talents recognized in this way, and for students to contribute so
meaningfully to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, a world class
institution,” says Amy Roza, executive director, Goucher Prison Education Partnership.

By providing a path to professional opportunity focused on GPEP alumnae/i, the museum
strives to develop the interns’ talents, promote their long-term professional success,
and in turn, the intern contributions enrich the museum and its staff.

“For me, interning at NMAH has been one of the best experiences of my life,” says
student Donalto Marshall. “I am continually learning something new about museum work
and other professional skills that I can use towards my career goals. It has been
an honor and a privilege to intern at NMAH.”

This press release was produced by Goucher College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.