Woody Internship in Museum Studies

Ready to take your interest in museums to the next level?

Thanks to the vision and generosity of alum Dr. Carol Woody '71 and Robert Woody, interns receive $5,000 to complete ten full-time weeks of intern and research activities during the summer. Successful applicants are matched, according to their interests and previous experience, with museum partners, who will then have the opportunity to vet final candidates through interviews. This opportunity is open to all W&M undergraduates.

Applications for summer 2026 are now closed. Applications for summer 2027 will open Dec. 1, 2026. Please contact Ted Maris-Wolf ([[edmari]]) with questions regarding the Woody Internship in Museum Studies.

The Charles Center is excited to partner with the following museums for summer 2026:

Internship information
The Charleston Museum (Charleston, South Carolina) Founded in 1773, The Charleston Museum, America's First Museum, has been discovering, preserving, interpreting, celebrating, and sharing ever since. Their collections, exhibitions, educational programs, and events are designed to inspire curiosity and conversation - about the South Carolina Lowcountry - and the stories that make us who we are. Internship description The intern for 2026 will help with a project re-documenting and photographing the Museum's important collection of Lowcountry furniture. The project will culminate in updating the Museum's online, public-facing catalog. Tasks will include researching individual objects, measuring, condition reporting, photography, and object handling, among others. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Strong writing and communications skills Interest in decorative arts and material culture Previous experience in a museum setting preferred Learn more about the Charleston Museum here.
Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk, Virginia) The Chrysler Museum exists to enrich and transform lives. Its mission is to bring art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. The museum has fifty galleries, a growing collection of more than 30,000 objects, an interactive space for families, and the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. Internship description The Woody intern will contribute to research for an exhibition about 19th-century French Orientalist art that depicts Jewish culture in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria (ca. 1830 – 1870). This will include: researching individual artists (i.e. Eugène Delacroix or Théodore Chassériau) and/or the Jewish communities in North Africa they depicted; and locating artworks in public and private collections including paintings, drawings, and related artifacts (such as clothing, jewelry, or Judaica). Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Interest or knowledge in 19th-century French art and/or history French reading skills preferred Learn more about the Chrysler Museum of Art here .
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, Virginia) The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation operates the world’s largest living history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia—the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World. The mission of Colonial Williamsburg is to be a center for history and citizenship, encouraging national and international audiences to learn from the past through the preservation, restoration, and presentation of 18th-century Williamsburg and the study, interpretation, and teaching of America's founding democratic principles. The Colonial Williamsburg story of a revolutionary city tells how diverse peoples, having different and sometimes conflicting ambitions, evolved into a society that valued liberty and equality. Americans cherish these values as a birthright, even when their promise remains unfulfilled. Internship description The Rockefeller Library at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation manages the Foundation’s Digital Asset Management System (DAM), which serves as the primary storage and retrieval system for over 1.2 million assets. This internship provides an opportunity to learn about the creation and management of digital assets and online exhibit curation within a museum library setting. With the guidance of Media Collections Manager Tracey Gulden, the intern will create a digital exhibit about a historic film from the library’s audio-visual collection. The intern will conduct in-depth research on the film, select related images and/or objects that provide context for it, write all label text, and build the digital exhibit. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Coursework in History, American Studies, Anthropology, or related fields Interest in material culture Learn more about the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation here.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (Jamestown, Virginia) The mission of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is to foster through its living-history museums – Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – an awareness and understanding of the early history, settlement, and development of the United States through the convergence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the enduring legacies bequeathed to the nation. Internship description The JYF summer 2026 intern will work within the Learning and Community Engagement department. JYF is in the process of reviewing and revising programming to fit their new interpretive plan of "fostering cultural curiosity creates connections and builds belonging." This interpretive plan also helps the Foundation further their mission of fostering through its living-history museums – Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – an awareness and understanding of the early history, settlement, and development of the United States through the convergence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the enduring legacies bequeathed to the nation. The intern who works with our department will have the opportunity to learn about current trends in the public history field, work with experts, and create a project that will be put into place. During the summer, we take the opportunity to visit with other museums, have lunch and learn discussions, and assist the person in building connections and networks across the Commonwealth. Interns will work with JYF to develop out a research project that will both engage them academically and meet the mission of the institution. In the past few years, interns have worked on research projects surrounding civic engagement, the role of monuments in memorialization and control, and the impact of different amendments to the Constitution on different sects of society. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Experience working in large and small team settings Critical thinking and communication (verbal and written) skills Learn more about the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation here.
The Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.) Founded by art collector and philanthropist Duncan Phillips in 1921, The Phillips Collection has been collecting modern and contemporary art for one hundred years. Duncan Phillips’s former home—and additions to it—in Washington’s historic Dupont Circle neighborhood provides a unique setting for the growing collection of over 5,000 works. Following Phillips’s unconventional approach to exhibitions, The Phillips Collection galleries are frequently rearranged to facilitate new conversations between artworks and fresh experiences for visitors. Internship description The Marketing and Communications Department oversees all internal and external communications surrounding the museum’s exhibitions, programs, events, partnerships, announcements, and milestones. This includes managing social media, creating partnerships and paid advertisements, writing press releases and other press materials, conducting media outreach, creating museum print and digital collateral, graphic design, and web design and content. The Marketing and Communications intern assists with a variety of these tasks, gaining a broad understanding of the work of the department. The intern will conduct marketing and social media research for the museum in collaboration with multiple museum departments. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Interest in marketing and communications Interpersonal skills Organization, time management, and multi-tasking skills Verbal and written communication skills Social media proficiency Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite Learn more about the Phillips Collection here.
Preservation Virginia (Richmond, Virginia & multiple locations) Preservation Virginia owns and operates six historic locations open to the public. It’s roughly 100 miles from Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown in Hanover County to Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia Beach- 100 Miles of History! Along the way, visit the John Marshall House, Historic Jamestowne, Smith’s Fort and Bacon’s Castle. The multifaceted and impactful nature of their advocacy programs, six historic sites and partnerships with other organizations has allowed them to create a holistic approach to saving the places that connect us to our diverse, complex history. Internship description This year's internship will focus on African American history at Scotchtown post-Patrick Henry, c.1778-1865, and will particularly emphasize research on the enslaved population. This research has never been undertaken by Preservation Virginia, and will contribute towards our overall goal of building a descendant community for this important Hanover County, VA, site. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests General knowledge of Virginia history pre-Civil War Experience/interest in utlizing physical and digital archives Driver's license and willingness to travel to historic sites and archives throughout central Virginia Learn more about Preservation Virginia here.
Taft Museum of Art (Cincinnati, Ohio) Built around 1820 as a private home for several of Cincinnati’s most prominent citizens, the Taft Museum of Art is now one of the finest small art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for its historic house and Duncanson murals. Here, you’ll find gems of history nestled into every nook and cranny in our period-inspired rooms—each their own canvas of creativity—that surround you in stories that have endured for generations. Our 200-year-old house holds a remarkable collection that spans the Middle Ages through the 19th century with European and American paintings, and 18th-century watches, Chinese porcelains, and French Renaissance enamels. The collection features iconic artists including Rembrandt, Goya, Gainsborough, Turner, Ingres, Whistler, and Sargent, as well as Federal-period American furniture and the most significant pre-Civil War domestic murals in the United States. Internship description The intern at the Taft Museum of Art will assist with the development of collection and exhibition resource materials that are used by volunteers during training as well as possibly reaching K-12 teachers. Each intern at the museum has the opportunity to explore other areas of interest as well (e.g. curatorial research, developing social media with marketing). Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Interest working with the public in a museum setting Experience/interest working with children and/or adults in an informal education setting Interest working in a team environment Learn more about the Taft Museum of Art here.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond, Virginia) The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all. Learn more about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts here.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Richmond, Virginia) The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) connects people to America's past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth's history, the museum links past with present and inspires future generations. Internship description The internship will primarily involve the intern contributing to a research guide for the VMHC library. This will involve surveying library collections (primarily manuscript material) around a given subject area, and compiling a guide to help widen access to these collections. In addition, the intern will gain experience and familiarity with some of the day-to-day operations involved in the running of a research library. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Experience in arts & humanities research Interest in underrepresented historical topics (e.g. Civil Rights history, LGBTQ+ history, disability history) Learn more about the Virginia Museum of History & Culture here.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Winterthur, Delaware) Winterthur is the premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the family of founder Henry Francis du Pont called it home. Winterthur is also 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, and waterways. The 60-acre garden, designed by du Pont, is among America’s best, with magnificent plantings and massive displays of color throughout the year. The graduate degree programs and extensive research library make Winterthur an important center for the study of American art and culture. Internship description The Winterthur summer intern will gain exposure to American decorative arts through work on projects spearheaded by the education, interpretation, curatorial, and registration departments within the Collections Division. Priorities include background research for objects and storylines to be featured in the upcoming exhibitions "Challenging Masterpieces: Artistry and Identity in American Furniture," "Continents Collide: New Directions in Collecting," and "The Winterthur Story." Opportunities for sharing original research include presentation at a lunchtime material culture colloquium held weekly for staff, research fellows, students, and other interested members of the Winterthur community, and creation of one or more blog posts to be featured on the Winterthur Museum website. Preferred skills, experiences, and interests Experience with historical/art historical writing and research Knowledge of 18th and 19th-century United States history Interest in museum studies and material culture Learn more about the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library here.

About the Woody Internship in Museum Studies

As a Woody Museum Studies Intern, William & Mary students participate in distinctive applied learning opportunities that hone their research skills and introduce them to the functions of 21st-century museums while furthering the missions of these institutions. Through creative partnerships, we seek to create unique experiences that put classroom learning into practice in ways that expand our understanding of the past, present, and future.

Woody internships are designed to be substantive and transformative. Host institutions provide interns with mentored research experiences that align with their needs and strategic objectives. Students are expected to apply and practice what they learn by contributing to the creation of an original project (e.g., exhibit, publication, or digital initiative) that reflects the latest methods, best practices, and innovative technologies in the field.

Below are the general application requirements. You can find more information in the links provided above, including expected duties and qualifications for each internship. Priority will be given to students who have not yet completed a Charles Center Summer Research Internship.

Eligibility

Applicant must be:

a student in good academic standing.
a continuing undergraduate student (i.e., not a graduating senior).
eligible to work in the United States on or before May 1 of the internship year.
available to complete ten full weeks of intern and research activities in the summer.

Requirements

Internships will have a research component with specifics to be arranged with the internship supervisor.
Students are required to participate in the Internship & Applied Learning Showcase, typically held in September.

Application

The application for the Woody Internship in Museum Studies includes:

Woody Museum Studies Internship Application form (online)
- You will be asked to enter the contact information of two references (letters are not required) :
  - One reference must be a faculty member who has taught you in class.
  - A second reference may be a former supervisor, acquaintance, etc. who can speak to your ability to be successful in the internship.
Cover Letter, addressed to the Charles Center, explaining the following:
- why you are interested in the museum studies internship
- the skill sets, academic preparation, and special interests or experiences you possess that qualify you for the internships you selected
- knowing that your cover letter may be sent to multiple partnering organizations, explain why you consider yourself a good fit for your chosen internships
- your personal qualities that make you suitable for this opportunity
- how this internship relates to your career and academic goals
- what you hope to gain from this experience

Writing sample, ranging from 3 to 5 double-spaced pages (not including bibliography, footnotes, or appendix), demonstrating:
- A capacity to craft a coherent and compelling argument using primary and/or secondary sources
- An engagement with history, culture, museums, arts, archaeology, or similar topics
- Attention to language, grammar, syntax, and overall construction
Resume
Banner (unofficial) transcript
- To access your unofficial transcript, log in to Banner at banweb.wm.edu, navigate to the “Student” tab, select "Student Records" and then “Student Profile.” On the left-hand menu of your student profile, click “Unofficial William & Mary Academic Transcript.” Select “Undergraduate” and “Web Self-Service” on the drop-down boxes. This will take you to your unofficial transcript; right click anywhere, select “Print,” and select the destination as “Save as PDF.”
Supplemental work (optional)
- Demonstrates research ability not displayed in the writing sample
- Examples include: art portfolio, digital project, museum exhibit, community project

Previous Interns:

Internship information
2025 Emma Anderson - Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| Art History, Marketing William Armacost - The Charleston Museum in Charleston, South Carolina Junior \| Art History Sophie Hatfield - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio Junior \| History Cadence Hodge - Preservation Virginia in Richmond, Virginia First Year \| History, Public Policy Julia Greiner - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Sophomore \| History Andi Ko - The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC Junior \| History Melanie Lloyd - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| Anthropology, Art History Maggie Rommel - Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| History Katie Shiflett - Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Jamestown, Virginia Junior \| History, Government Clare Yee - Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia Sophomore \| Art History, Hispanic Studies
2024 Emily Alberti - Colonial Williamsburg Foudation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| History Camille Batts - Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Jamestown, Virginia Sophomore \| Sociology, History Zoe Davis - Taft Museum of Art in CIncinatti, Ohio Junior \| Art History Josiah Desarro-Raynal - Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia Junior \| History J.P. Heil - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Junior \| History Natalie Lopez - Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| History Sierra Manja - Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sophomore \| History, Art History Faith Page - Preservation VA in Richmond, Virginia Sophomore \| History Rachel Swain - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| History Katherine Walter - Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Virgina Junior \| Global Studies, Government
2023 Sterling Hodge - Preservation Virginia in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| History, GSWS Emma Jackson - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| Anthropology, Art History Kathryn Keiserman - Jamestown Rediscovery and Historic Jamestown in Jamestown, Virginia Junior \| Anthropology, Classical Studies Sophia Kim - Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia Junior \| Art History Hannah Kuhns - Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| Art History Annabelle Midden - Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| History, Religious Studies Isabel Periera-Lopez - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Junior \| History Pelumi Sholagbade - Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia Junior \| English Natalie Simpson - Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Jamestown, Virginia Junior \| American Studies, Hispanic Studies Cecilia Weaver - Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Virginia Junior \| History, Government Anna Wershbale - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnatti, Ohio Junior \| Art History
2022 Noah Broude - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Junior \| History and Linguistics Caroline Donovan - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| Anthropology
2021 Emma Eubank - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio Junior \| Anthropology and Medieval & Renaissance Studies Morgan Sanders - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| History and Geology Hannah Sanner - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Senior \| Chinese Language & Culture
2020 Jamie Carkenord - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Sophomore\| American Studies Julia Gibson- J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Sophomore \| History Grant Wong- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| History
2019 Clara Poteet - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior\| Art History Katie Gibson - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore\| History Grace Ford-Dirks- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Sophomore\| History Hannah Lowe - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio Sophomore\| History
2018 Charles Parsons - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Sophomore\| Art & Art History major, Art History concentration Hannah London - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Sophomore\| Undeclared Caitlin Wagner - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior \| Anthropology major, Art History minor Lydia Heaton- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Junior \| History major, French & Francophone Studies minor
2017 Helen Cameron - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior \| Art History & Classical Studies major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program Sarah Farver - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Junior \| History major, Art History minor Emily Knoche - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore \| Global Studies major, French & Francophone Studies minor Anna South - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Sophomore \| English major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program
2016 Kelsey Frenkiel - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Senior \| Anthropology major, History minor Emma Merrill - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore \| History major, Public Policy minor Isabel Stevens - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior \| History and Classics major
2015 Carter Lyon - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Junior \| History major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program Rachel Rosenfeld - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore \| History and Film and Media Studies majors Claire Tinsley - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior \| Art History major