"I loved and still cherish my internship at NMAAHC. It was the highlight of my undergraduate career. Working at such a meaningful, symbolic, and impactful organization gave me a sense of purpose, especially as a young black woman in America."

Jada A.
Community Curation Curatorial Intern 2019

Internships and Fellowships 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture offers academic appointments more commonly known as internships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, pre-and post-doctoral candidates as well as professionals and career changers.  

Academic Appointments allow learners to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field and access resources and information. The museum provides a dynamic learning environment and access to supportive mentors and advisors that help interns and fellows reach their educational and professional goals.  

The National Museum of African American History and Culture offers available internships as virtual (online and remote), hybrid (virtual with 2-3 days onsite a week as scheduled), or onsite (entire internship to occur at The National Museum of African American History and Culture or other Smithsonian facilities) experiences. 

I had a wonderful summer interning at NMAAHC. I felt engaged and supported throughout the entire term, which is no easy feat done 100% virtually. Julien N. Archival Intern 2021

Internships 

Internships provide temporary workplace-based learning experiences to undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates and career changers guided by staff mentors across a broad range of museum career fields to support the academic and professional goals of future museum leaders and advocates. 

Fellowships 

Fellowships offer opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff. Fellowships are offered to graduate students, predoctoral students, and postdoctoral and senior researchers to conduct independent research and to utilize the resources of the Institution with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff serving as advisors and hosts. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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"Not only did my internship provide me with valuable skills that I can now take with me into virtually any career path that I choose, but the environment that I was in and the colleagues and constituents that I met along the way helped me learn more about myself, as well as broadened my perspective on history and culture in a very real, not theoretical or academic, sense."

Eric C.
Membership Intern 2020

Have questions about the Academic Appointments at NMAAHC? Email us.

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