An Internship with an Impact – Bridget Tillery’s public history internship in Fort Collins, CO

Curious about internships? They’re a great way to try out a career and have valuable experiences that can help you be even more employable when you graduate. Check out Bridget Tillery’s unique experiences on the job in Fort Collins, CO.

What are you studying?
My major is history, and I’m also pursuing minors in anthropology and art history.

Where did you intern?
I did an archaeology and public history internship with Forest Service in Fort Collins, CO.

How does the internship connect to your major and educational goals?
I am very interested in pursuing a career in the museum sector, so historical interpretation and education are very connected to my goals. I am also interested in possibly working for the National Park Service or Forest Service, so this internship also allowed me to gain connections within those organizations.

What were the big takeaways that you learned during this internship?
I learned a ton about how the organization is working with Indigenous communities in regard to repatriation, and that was incredibly interesting and I hope to bring that knowledge to my future career. I also learned a lot about historical interpretation and how to best portray information visually to visitors to national and state parks.

What do you think was the most meaningful part of your experience as an intern?
My final project was to compile a report on the Indigenous tribes that lived in Colorado and the history of their interactions with the government. The report ended up being around 20 pages and was provided to employees of the heritage department in Colorado so they can better understand and collaborate with Indigenous communities during repatriation activities.

Why do you think interning is valuable?
It allows you to gain experience and connections with potential employers and gets you a foot in the door, making it easier to get a job after college. It has also given me a better chance of getting into graduate school, which I am very grateful for.

You were awarded a stipend from PLU’s Internship Fund. Can you share a little bit about how that was helpful for you as you were doing your internship?
I was able to get class credit for my summer internship, which helped toward my minor. That said, the internship was unpaid, and my academic scholarships don’t cover summer classes. This stipend allowed me to pay for the class credit that I got through my internship. It was also super easy to apply for the stipend, so I would definitely recommend the Internship Fund.

What do you love about PLU?
I love the community at PLU and the academic opportunities that it provides to students. The history, anthropology, and art departments are amazing, and the support that PLU has provided me has made me successful in college so far. I have also found a wonderful community of fellow students at PLU, especially within the clubs I have joined (I’m an officer of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society at PLU, and part of an arts group called The Collective).