Randolph-Macon College has a dynamic network of alumni who are actively involved in supporting students on their career paths. Emily Hewitt ’16 knows this firsthand.In summer 2015, Hewitt did an internship at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. She secured the internship with the help of Tim Nolan ’01, program manager for the Museum’s Office of Curatorial Affairs.

Yellow Jacket Connection
“Tim knew I was interested in interning at the Museum’s Division of Culture and the Arts, and after reviewing my application and interviewing me, he customized an internship for me,” explains Hewitt, an arts management and history major. “I worked two days a week in his administrative office and two days a week doing collections work in the Division of Culture and the Arts. The experience was incredible.”

Under Nolan’s guidance, Hewitt received training on how to use an administrative database software program and assisted with behind-the-scenes tours of the collections rooms. In the Division of Culture and the Arts, she learned how to properly label, organize, and handle a variety of objects, including musical instruments, vintage posters, and vintage movie programs.

“It was also neat to attend meetings for upcoming museum exhibits,” says Hewitt, who is passionate about art and history. “It was fascinating to see plans of what future exhibits will look like, and to hear the curators discuss how the exhibits should be organized. I was given the opportunity to see so many objects, such as the original Kermit the Frog puppet, the ‘puffy shirt’ from the television show ‘Seinfeld,’ and a Stradivarius violin up close, without a glass case in front of me. Tim was a great mentor to me throughout my internship.”

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to work with Emily during the summer,” says Nolan. “She provided a unique perspective on museum operations as well as invaluable assistance.” Nolan, who majored in history at RMC, interned during J-term of his senior year at the Institute for Palestine Studies, Washington, D.C. “I know from my own experience how valuable an internship can be,” he says.

Smithsonian Folkways
Nolan also helped Hewitt secure a 2016 January Term (J-term) internship at Smithsonian Folkways, a non-profit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Under the guidance of David Horgan, marketing and licensing manager, Hewitt updated and maintained social media platforms and replied to visitors’ inquiries on the Folkways web site. Working extensively on Folkways’ Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts was an exciting, challenging project.

“I learned to use social media in a different way than I had before,” she says. “Every post needs to be accurate, interesting and to the point. I learned to be creative—and I learned the fine art of editing, too.”

Horgan says, “The internship program at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings gives interns from high school to retirement age the chance to help bring our music collection to the world and learn about the music industry in the process. We couldn’t fulfill our nonprofit mission without contributions from talented interns like Emily.”

RMC Internships
J-term internships offer a real-world setting for connecting academic learning with the workplace. RMC’s Edge Career Center and dedicated faculty assist students in finding the perfect internship opportunity.

The Edge is an intensive four-year program that prepares students for life after college. Located within The Edge Career Center, it gives students a competitive advantage in the job market or graduate-school admissions process. Workshops, internships, one-on one advising, a career and networking Boot Camp, and a host of other resources ensure that students who graduate from RMC are lifelong learners who can think critically and adapt to new situations.

More than 130 students participated in J-term 2016 internships, shadowing professionals and gaining experience at a wide variety of businesses and non-profits, including: Genworth Financial, Bon Secours Richmond Health Systems, Goodwill of Central Virginia, and McGuireWoods. RMC’s Bassett Internship program offers academic credit and connects students with tailor-made internships to explore a wide range of career fields in various locations. Students can also choose from a variety of paid or volunteer internship opportunities.