The Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good announces the Undergraduate Public Humanities Internship (UPHI), a new program for undergraduate students in the College of Arts & Letters. This paid internship comes as part of the Franco Institute’s expanded mission to foster the liberal arts’ engagement with the public good.
Applications for this highly selective internship are available now through Oct. 10, 2025. The first year of the program will consist of six internship positions to take place in the 2026 spring semester. Students will work in areas ranging from public writing, archival work, public memory, and museum studies to non-profit administration, education, and working with at-risk youth and adults.
As a disciplinary focus, “public humanities” bridge the gap between scholarly production and public engagement, fostering collaborative efforts to explore the world and our uniquely human place within it. The UPHI offers students the opportunity to use their humanities skills in service to their community while learning how knowledge is produced through the lives, actions, and experiences of community members.
Together, this inaugural cohort of interns will tackle one enduring question related to this year’s Franco Research Theme of “Attention.” Students will explore this question through their work and their experiences with the public and each other. This will culminate in a final poster or presentation that students will deliver to their cohort and the community partners at a final dinner.
The UPHI will consist of a few essential requirements throughout the semester.
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Interns will work 5 hours a week in the spring semester for 13 weeks total (Interns will not work the first week of classes, spring break, or exam week).
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Interns will receive a stipend of $1,000 and support for coordinating transportation if needed.
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Students will meet the first week of classes for training as a cohort.
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Students will be required to meet monthly (lunch provided) to discuss their experiences with the program director and each other with a focus on the enduring question the students highlighted at the beginning of the program.
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Students will be required to complete a final poster or presentation that they will present at the end-of-program dinner for their fellow interns and community partners.
Interested students can learn more and apply through the Franco Institute’s webpage. Current students can reach out to Lindsay Paturalski (lpatura2@nd.edu) with questions. Representatives for possible community partnerships with the Franco Institute are invited to contact Jake Schepers (jscheper@nd.edu) for more information.
Originally published by at franco.nd.edu on September 03, 2025.
