R-MC Student Experience: Justine Armes ’11

Justine Armes '11: "The internship ties in perfectly with my major."

Suzie Zeh '09 is the volunteer coordinator for the Children's Museum of Richmond.

Zeh and Armes have worked together at the Museum for several months.

Justine Armes ’11 spent the summer of 2010 an intern at the Children’s Museum of Richmond (CMoR). The arts management major assisted with marketing projects and event planning.

“The internship tied in perfectly with my major; it had a business side and a creative aspect as well,” says Armes. The Museum, a popular destination for children and parents since 1981, is a bright, kid-friendly space that offers hands-on learning with an emphasis on fun.

The Honeoye Falls, New York native found out about the internship through R-MC’s Jobs4YellowJackets Web site, which is coordinated through the college’s Career Services department. Armes has a keen interest in non-profits and, with the help of Director of Career Services Cathy Rollman, applied for the Robins Foundation Summer Non-Profit Internship at the Museum. This academic internship is one of many coordinated through R-MC’s Bassett Internship Program, which provides a real-world backdrop for future academic learning, as well as preparation for life after graduation.

Armes worked under the guidance of R-MC alumna Suzie Zeh ’09, the volunteer coordinator at CMoR. “We were looking for an intern at the Museum,” says Zeh, “and the Career Services department offered us a grant. I am happy any time I can help out other R-MC students and any time I can work with Cathy.”

Zeh, who coordinates as many as 900 volunteers a year, started out as an intern at the Museum while she was a student at R-MC, and she was thrilled to mentor a fellow Yellow Jacket. “She was fabulous, taking initiative and looking for ways she can help out,” says Zeh of her cohort. “Justine really learned a lot about non-profits and she definitely succeeded as an intern.” Zeh, who also does a lot of the marketing for the CMoR, says her own experience as an intern gave an added dimension to her relationship with Armes. “It kept us connected,” she says.

Armes credits R-MC Economics/Business Professor Ed Showalter with giving her solid advice about her classes and her future career possibilities. “I’ve taken all my business and marketing classes from him,” says Armes. “He’s a great professor. He’s been a wonderful outlet for me and has helped me a lot with networking.”

Armes isn’t sure what her post-R-MC plans will entail, but her internship experience will no doubt help her as she narrows her search. “I first thought I wanted to be an event planner,” she says, “but I have more of an interest in the marketing side of things. I want to look into more internships before I decide on a career.”


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