The Center provides undergraduate students with graduate-level experience in museum, archives, and library settings. Students receive hands-on, résumé-building training in collections management, archival processing, exhibition development, and more. The Center is a national leader in mentoring emerging Indigenous museum professionals with valuable professional connections to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), the Andrew W. Mellon Diversity in Conservation Program, and the Association of Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums (ATALM).
“My opportunity to personally work with the collections, staff, and guest curators has enriched my path tenfold. The work I’ve done at the Center has introduced me to the minute details of running a museum and taking care of diverse cultural materials. I have made unique connections that I will take with me once I graduate and am unbelievably blessed with how much I have learned during my time here!”
Student Internships
Our internship opportunities extend beyond art, history, and anthropology majors. Cultural institutions also need students with expertise in business management, graphic design, education, chemistry, and more. Our internship positions are valuable assets to any résumé. For example, a past student successfully translated the attention to detail developed in an archives internship into a career in accounting.
Student internships for class credit are facilitated through Fort Lewis College’s academic departments or Career Services. These internships are usually 50, 100, or 150 hours depending on the number of credits. Students should talk with their academic advisor to learn more about the requirements for their department.
The Center also offers paid internships, which are made possible through the generous support of donors. These include:
- Bell Internship
- Jackson Clark II Endowed Internship
- CSWS Internship (funded through our Center of Southwest Studies Internship Fund)
- John W. Sanders Internship, sponsored by the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society
- Janice C. Sheftel Endowed Internship
Work-Study Opportunities
Gallery Attendants
Gallery attendants at the Center of Southwest Studies create a welcoming and informative environment for visitors while overseeing the safety of exhibited collections. Gallery attendants are paid, receive ongoing training, and gain experience toward museum and gallery careers while developing strong community engagement and customer service skills.
Gallery attendants work 2–3 shifts (8–12 hours) per week during the fall and spring semesters and work with Center staff to:
- Help keep exhibited collections safe
- Help visitors have enjoyable gallery visits
- Prepare the facilities for visitors, usually by setting up and breaking down furniture
- Help keep the gallery clean
Museum Student Workers
Museum student workers provide an invaluable service to Fort Lewis College and the public by caring for collections held in the public trust, providing research access, and supporting exhibits and programming. Museum student workers are paid, receive hands-on training, and gain experience toward potential museum, archives, and library careers as well as professional skills that can be applied to any field.
Museum student workers work 2–3 shifts (8–12 hours) per week during the fall and spring semesters and assist with a range of museum activities, including:
- Collections management
- Exhibit development and installation
- Programming and educational outreach
- And more
Archives & Research Library Student Workers
Archives and research library student workers work 2–4 shifts (8–12 hours) per week during the fall and spring semesters and assist with all Delaney Research Library and Archives activities, including:
- Collections management
- Reference and circulation desk support
- Library duties
- Programming and educational outreach
- And more
What Is It Like to Work at the Center?
Learn more about our alumni and where they are today.