Humanities Internship Spotlight
Christopher Viapiano | Dorothy McGinnis | Sami Snyder
Humanities students gain valuable, career-ready skills through their coursework and co-curricular programs. Internships offer an essential opportunity to apply these skills in real-world settings, explore potential career paths, and gain professional experience. For many students, completing an internship is a key step in successfully transitioning from college to the workplace.
Over the summer, I interned at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, Wyoming. I’m currently a senior at the University of Utah, entering my final semester as an undergraduate student. As I approached my last year, I realized how valuable internship experience could be, both for building professional skills and for connecting what I’ve learned in the classroom to the real world.
I’m double majoring in History and English, as the study of history in general, and literature have been my two most prominent academic interests. When I told my advisor I was open to an internship this summer, she mentioned an opportunity at this military museum in a small town in Wyoming. As someone with a strong interest in military history, something I have studied since I was a child, I decided to jump at this chance. This internship has given me the opportunity to work closely with history for the first time in a professional setting, and it also gave me the chance to see how history is presented, preserved, and interpreted for the public. And truly, what better place to gain that experience than at a museum dedicated to preserving American military history.
My role at the National Museum of Military Vehicles was that of Head Tour Guide and Assistant Curator, with my primary focus on leading tours for visitors Monday through Friday. The first tours began at 10:00 a.m. and I guided guests through the George C. Marshall Gallery, highlighting the American experience during the Second World War. The second tour started at 1:30 p.m. in the Chesty Puller Gallery, where I guided visitors through America’s involvement in the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. During these tours, I was responsible for educating and engaging visitors on the historical events represented in the museum, explaining the artifacts and vehicles on display, their roles in these conflicts, and sharing the stories of the people who relied on this equipment. I interacted with a wide range of audiences, young children, families, military veterans, and visitors from across the United States and beyond.
This internship has strengthened my public speaking skills, an area in which I previously had little experience in. I now feel far more confident in my ability to speak clearly and effectively to an audience and to serve as a public educator. I also assisted with some historical research on select artifacts, though that is a limited and secondary aspect of the work. Last but not least, I had the opportunity to actually drive a military vehicle in the form of a British Ferret armored car!
I would have no hesitation pursuing similar work at another museum or institution dedicated to preserving history for the public. My experience at the National Museum of Military Vehicles strengthened my desire to find a career path where I can work closely with history, exploring it, interpreting it, and preserving it for future generations to learn from. I believe this type of work is meaningful, and I would recommend it to anyone with a passion for history and a desire to educate others about the events that have shaped our world.
I am a communication major who interned with the U Career Success office during the Summer 2025 semester. The experience was incredibly valuable in helping me understand how effective communication supports career development and empowers students.
In my role, I was at the forefront of student engagement, especially through tabling at new student orientations. Welcoming incoming first-year students to the U involved more than just sharing information. It required crafting tailored messages to connect with diverse audiences, clearly communicating the range of career support services available, and building early rapport to ensure students felt welcomed and informed from day one on campus.
Working in the office sharpened my interpersonal communication and problem-solving
skills. I managed inquiries, directed students to the right resources, and communicated
with businesses interested in partnering with U Career Success. I also contributed
to curating job listings on Handshake, which gave me a unique perspective on current
industry demands, how student skills align with employer needs, and the evolving landscape
of professional opportunities.
My communication coursework played a key role in preparing me for these responsibilities.
It taught me how to adapt messages for different audiences and navigate professional
interactions with confidence. This hands-on experience deepened my understanding of
how communication empowers individuals to successfully navigate their career paths.
I was especially grateful for the friendly and welcoming environment at U Career Success
and the amazing leaders I had the chance to work with. With a growing passion for
supporting student development and a clearer understanding of career ecosystems, this
internship equipped me with practical skills and helped shape my direction for graduate
studies and beyond.
I was drawn to this internship because of the location, workload, and environment. I am a strategic communication major with a minor in design, and I want to pursue interior design. I have always been very passionate about the general design and decoration of homes, so this internship was a perfect opportunity for me. This internship taught me principles of design, the importance of teamwork, and what it means to run your own company. Liz is the principal designer and the company's founder, so learning from her was one of the greatest things I could have done in college.
I have taken basic design introductions in the past, which helped me with color matching, size, space, and attention to detail. Something very cool about this internship was the fact that it was based in Aspen, Colorado. Spending my summer there was nothing short of a dream. My favorite project I was able to help with was designing one of Liz's family friend's studio apartments. This was very challenging because we couldn't adjust any paint color, cabinetry, or countertops the way we would have liked to. We had limited space and color ranges to work with, but it was outstanding. We could identify and deliver on everything the client wanted while adding our personal touches to it.
I would absolutely do this internship again and even recommend it to other students. My best advice for other students is to take a couple of introductory courses in what you are interested in, then find real-world experience somewhere you could see yourself working in the future.