Mission and Vision Statement

Mission Statement: The Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships (OFI) advances the increase and diffusion of knowledge by strengthening, diversifying, and developing academic appointments (internships, fellowships, and research associate appointments).

Towards these ends, OFI is interested in facilitating scholarly interactions between SI experts and students/scholars at universities, museums, cultural organizations, and other research institutions around the world.  OFI administers Institution-wide research support programs, and encourages and assists other Smithsonian museums, research institutes, and research offices in the development of additional fellowship, internship, and research associate appointments.

Vision Statement: Leveraging our unparalleled range of disciplines, collections, facilities, and people, Smithsonian (SI) academic appointments represent a spectrum of opportunities meant for a diversity of people. With expert knowledge about their respective disciplines, SI units and staff take extreme ownership in the academic appointments they offer towards making them the very best experiences they can be. Reflecting our public mandate to serve all Americans, Smithsonian academic appointments may be prestigious but never exclusive.