By Georgia Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences
Maria Bustinza is going to change the world. The third-year 木瓜视频 student has big plans, including law school and a future in immigration law and human rights.
But first, she is going to organize a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, where she is the community engagement intern this semester.
鈥淚 want to eventually work with non-profit organizations or NGOs, like Amnesty International or the United Nations,鈥� said Bustinza, who will graduate next year with two degrees from the 木瓜视频 College of Arts and Sciences 鈥� one in international studies, another in world languages and culture. 鈥淭his internship ticks all the boxes for me. I was beyond grateful to be offered the spot.鈥�
Bustinza will graduate with two bachelor's degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences next year. [Photo by Corey Lepak]
For Bustinza, who is inspired by her parents鈥� experience immigrating to the United States and ongoing political instability in Peru, the internship is an opportunity to learn more about community organizing, fundraising and the inner mechanisms of non-profit work.
Unlike most internships traditionally available to students in the college, it also pays well.
Bustinza鈥檚 internship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of many made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, the nation鈥檚 largest supporter of the arts and humanities. The five-year, $4.8 million grant will support up to 900 students each year in otherwise unpaid internships.
鈥淥ur 木瓜视频 humanities students are outstanding 鈥� they bring a great depth of talent and creativity to these internships,鈥� said Elizabeth Spiller, dean of the college. 鈥淲ith up to 900 paid internships a year, we are building partnerships with employers across Tampa Bay and the state of Florida to bring new talent to the workforce.鈥�
Beneficiaries of the grant are undergraduate students, like Bustinza, who are majoring or minoring in the humanities, including English, history, philosophy, humanities and cultural studies, world languages, communication, religion or women鈥檚, gender and sexuality studies.
鈥淭he Mellon Humanities Internship Program is an incredible opportunity for humanities students to access paid internships,鈥� said Phyllis Leuci, senior director of development for the college. 鈥淭his generous program also includes a 1:1 match for any gifts made to build a lasting fund, thereby doubling donor impact and creating opportunities for generations of students.鈥�
For university students, landing an internship is a key predictor of early-career success, including higher starting salaries, more job offers and faster job placement. Prior to the grant, about a third of the college鈥檚 undergraduates participated in internships each year. However, because the majority of the positions were unpaid, some students had to forgo opportunities for professional development and seek employment elsewhere.
Daffinson's second internship is with the Office of Communications and Marketing in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she is gaining experience as a photographer and writer. [Photo by Corey Lepak]
Thanks to the grant, internships available to humanities students will not only increase but also serve a wider profile of students, like Zo毛 Daffinson, a third-year philosophy major, who is interning with the community garden network Homegrown Hillsborough.
鈥淚 ended up taking two internships due to the financial component of the Mellon grant opportunity,鈥� Daffinson said.
Daffinson and Bustinza are among the first cohort of interns to go to work, this fall, with health organizations, radio stations, local gardens, athletic clubs, marketing firms and other businesses, where they are spearheading community engagement efforts, writing grants, creating content for publication and gaining first-hand experience in the workplace.
鈥淭he response from our community partners has been phenomenal and has underscored the breadth of skills that humanities degrees deliver,鈥� said Lauren Arrington, chair of the Department of English and principal investigator of the grant. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see how eagerly our students are pursuing these opportunities 鈥� they鈥檙e learning how to communicate the expertise they鈥檝e gained in the classroom to jobs as varied as data analysis for the CDC and grant writing for sports teams.
鈥淭he Mellon program is also showcasing jobs that otherwise might not be as visible to students, especially the variety of paid employment that exists in the non-profit sector.鈥�
Interested students should contact their department's internship director to apply.