Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education

The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education is funded through an endowed fund in memory of Claudine K. Brown, an educator and influential leader of the Smithsonian. Awardees of the Brown Internship are appointed based on a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership. Internships are available for high school and college students, including under-served youth.

Background

This program was established in honor of the late Claudine K. Brown, former Assistant Secretary for Education and Access, to promote excellence in education and help ensure a diverse education and museum workforce of the future. Brown was a lifelong champion for learners of all ages. She believed in immersive experiences – that we learn by doing. As assistant secretary for education and access from 2010 to 2016, she was responsible for defining the institution’s overall education program, especially for K-12 students and teachers. She worked with more than 300 educators to bring stories, collections, lessons, films, games and many more offerings to life.

Purpose

Available internship opportunities are intended to increase participation of underserved students who are under-represented in the education and museum leadership field. Interns are placed in offices, museums, and research centers throughout the Smithsonian Institution where they will help to create, develop and disseminate innovative educational programs and resources at the Smithsonian, online, in the classroom and in communities.

Eligibility

U.S. Citizens and U.S. permanent residents
To be considered for this opportunity one must currently be enrolled or recently have been enrolled (within the last 6 months) as a high school or undergraduate student

How it works

Each year, the Office of the Under Secretary for Education (OUSE) (formerly APEA) identifies a new project for the Claudine K. Brown Internship awardee. In 2021, the Claudine K. Brown intern will have an opportunity to learn through engagement with one of the Smithsonian education teams at a museum, research center, or central education office.

How to Apply

Apply online through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA). Please carefully review the position description(s) prior to applying.

Once you have created an account and logged into SOLAA, you will need to upload and complete all the required information including:

A current resume
A short essay including learning objectives
Two references from professors, advisors, or recent employers

Candidates will likely be asked to interview, either in person or over the phone, for their desired position.

Stipend

$650/week (full-time), with possible travel allowance. Maximum five-week internship period. Additional housing information can be found here.

Application Deadline

Friday March 19, 2021

The 2021 Claudine Brown Internship Opportunity

For 2021, the Claudine K. Brown Internship awardee will have an opportunity to learn about developing and disseminating innovative educational programs and resources at the Smithsonian, online, in the classroom and in communities. This year we are seeking interns who have a desire to strengthen their skills in research and writing within the context of education. Opportunities for placement include a museum, research center, or one of our education and access units. Additional learning opportunities may be created to address intern’s interests.

Students who may get the most from this opportunity include students who are:

High school or undergraduate students who have completed or are currently enrolled in coursework in education, history, science, art, culture or who has an interest in any of those disciplines
Enthusiastic about collaborating in teams, but equally comfortable completing assignments alone
Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management skills
An eagerness to learn about the complexities of a large institution
Strong verbal, written communication and interpersonal skills
Demonstrate strong research and writing skills

Upon completion of the internship, Claudine K. Brown interns will be better able to:

Understand best practices of education in their area of interest
Collaborate with a variety of audiences from Smithsonian education staff, volunteers and visitors to the Museums, education and research centers
Build self-confidence in a professional setting