Interns at the Denison Museum spend time with antiquities, art and objects that enhance their learning, and deepen their connection to their research.
October 12, 2015
They learn how to handle and clean ceramics, printed materials, textiles, wooden and painted objects. And they learn how to research items and curate collections. It’s all about observing, thinking and asking critical questions.
Ariel Baez ’16 is from Boston and is majoring in studio art. This will be the third internship at the museum and he will serve as an intern for the Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant to inventory the museum’s permanent collection. In 2014, he worked with the museum’s painting collection and Rose Medallion china collection, and this year he is looking forward to gaining experience in handling textiles and other cultural heritage objects. Ariel is interested in learning the fundamentals of working within a museum, such as curating, object handling, and preservation. As Ariel states, “working in a museum is similar to utilizing a time machine because objects date back as early as the 15th century, and each object tells a story that you learn as you work with it.” Ariel hopes to utilize his experience at the museum and his passion for studio art to pursue a masters in museum studies with the goal of working at an art museum.
Studio art major, women’s studies minor, queer theory concentration
Curatorial Intern for Monomoy Place
Hannah Chen ’17 is a studio art major, women’s studies minor, and queer theory concentration. Born and raised in Princeton, N. J., but hailing now from Ann Arbor, Mich., Hannah is honored to be part of the museum staff in the position of the Monomoy Curatorial Intern. Hannah’s interest in art has been constant, previously working as an art instructor, and a studio assistant for a jewelry artist. While working at the museum, Hannah hopes to gain experience working with the museum’s vast collection, as well as bringing more student art to Monomoy. Post-Denison, Hannah hopes to travel and gain a wider variety of experiences with different artistic cultures, as well as to spend more time developing a unique art style with the goal of finding a place within the art world.
Jocelyn Hernandez ‘16 is a Communication major and a Spanish minor from Round Lake, Illinois. She is currently working on her concentration in Latin American and Caribbean studies. She spent five months last semester abroad in Ecuador where she developed a deeper understanding and love for the arts. At the Museum, she has especially enjoyed working with the Cuna collections from Panama. After graduation she hopes to be working in public education where she wants to use art as a means to re-envision the education system.
Art History and Visual Culture and English Literature double major
Curatorial Research Intern
Drew Jepson ’16 is an Art History and Visual Culture and English Literature double major from Los Angeles, California. Embarking on her third year at the Denison Museum, Drew initially began as a collections intern, working with and rehousing artifacts, focusing primarily on the museum’s extensive Burmese collection. This year, as Drew’s academic and career interests have evolved, she will be working as a curatorial intern, gaining experience in exhibition research and museum education. After graduating from Denison, Drew will most likely spend the next year performing at a Shakespearean theatre, traveling, and attempting to read every Victorian conduct book she can get her hands on, before eventually buckling down to pursue a graduate degree in British history. Drew cannot imagine her Denison experience without the influence of the Museum and cannot thank her mentors enough for all their wise and guiding words!
Kevin Julian ’18 is a sophomore Classical Studies major from Excelsior, Minnesota. Kevin also plans on minoring in Latin and looking into a potential track in finance or commerce if one appears. He is currently working as an office assistant down in the Denison Museum, which consists primarily of organizing and digitizing artifact records. Kevin chose to apply for this position to see what working at a museum is like and because of a passion for classical history. During his time at Denison University, Kevin wishes to find out whether he should pursue his especially strong love of Latin in the form of a career as Latin teacher or not.
Anne McKiterick ‘16 is a senior history major and education minor from Columbus, Ohio. This past summer Anne interned at the Supreme Court of the United States in the office of the Curator. During this internship, she learned new skills in relation to both collections management and visitor services. Anne worked at the museum previously as a summer intern in 2014 and is excited to be back to continue working with the Native American and African collections. She hopes to use her experience at the museum to pursue a graduate program in museum studies and history.
I’m Hai Nghiem ’18 and I’m an Economics Major with a minor in Cinema. I develop, film, and edit video podcasts to highlight the work happening at the museum. Working at the museum has given me opportunities to collaborate with students and faculties from different backgrounds. My experience here at the museum will stay with me in my future career, as I am interested in continuing in creating videos. This past summer, I continued my film education working with a film company where I assisted on shoots and traveled throughout southeast Asia.
Charlotte Prior ’19 is an undeclared first year student from Cincinnati, Ohio. This year she is a Collections intern at the museum. She decided to apply to the internship because she has always been interested in the arts, especially film photography, and has enjoyed the volunteer work she has done in the past for art museums. During past summers, Charlotte volunteered at the Fenimore Art Museum and at the Smithy Center for the Arts in Cooperstown NY. She has enjoyed learning about the process of organizing a museum collection and hopes to learn more about different cultures, history, and the art that the Denison Museum has to offer.
Cole Stern ‘17 is a Theatre and Folklore IDM double major hailing from Ogden, UT. Cole is overjoyed to have the opportunity to work in the collections at the museum and especially to be in a position where he can physically handle artifacts. Cole’s interest in working at the museum comes from his academic interest in folk arts and their roles in broader society. This present position is part of Cole’s larger plans pursue a career studying and preserving folk arts after Denison. Post-Denison Cole hopes to attend a graduate program in the field of Folklore.
Daniel Timmermann ‘19 is from Holland, Michigan. Daniel’s interests include: George Plimpton, needlepoint, Ferris wheels, Weezer, and museums (specifically the branch of the Air and Space museum housed at the Washington Dulles Airport). Over the past four summers Daniel worked as a councilor at the Hope College Summer Science Camps, teaching children aged Pre-K to 8th grade about robotics and earth sciences. During the spring semester of senior year in high school, Daniel interned at the Holland Museum where he helped organize and plan children’s programs. Daniel is not sure what he wants to major in, but is interested in many things including, but not limited to: history, geology, and education.
Charlotte Underhill ’16 is a senior English literature major from Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This summer she is an Institute of Museum and Library Services intern at the Denison Museum through the Joseph E. McMahon endowment. Charlotte chose to pursue the internship because of her interest in working with historical artifacts and learning about writing in the non-profit sector. After graduating from Denison, Charlotte intends to pursue a degree in professional writing. She plans on applying her degree to improving communications in nonprofit organizations.
