An Internship with SEMC

Claudia Hawkins , Georgia College and State University Student; SEMC Intern, Winter 2023

As a student who is getting closer and closer to graduating, I have had some doubt and confusion surrounding exactly where I want to go in the museum field and what area I wanted to pursue. I have completed museum studies classes in different areas including exhibition design and curatorial studies, but administration has always been an aspect of museum studies that stood out to me. In the fall of 2022, I had the pleasure of meeting Zinnia Willits as she spoke to our class about her duties as Executive Director of SEMC. This meeting presented me with the amazing opportunity to act as an administrative intern for SEMC this past January and February. While interning for SEMC, I had the chance to work with Program Administrator, Heather Nowak as well as Zinnia, and gained so much insight on how SEMC works behind-the-scenes. I also learned a lot about the workload of an administrative position. The projects I was involved with taught me about working collaboratively with others and helped develop the organizational skills I am acquiring through my work with the different museums on the campus of Georgia College and State University, where I am currently a junior. I was also given the opportunity to connect with professionals in the museum industry and further my knowledge about SEMC and its programs, including the Jekyll Island Management Institute, as I helped coordinate the many details of the 2023 on-site experience.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a supportive team that continues to give me advice and guidance even beyond my internship. I am excited to build on my experience with SEMC and cannot wait to assist the SEMC staff in-person at the annual conference in November!

ourfundraisingsearch@gmail.com