Graduate Assistant- Education Intern
Position Overview
The Education Intern works with the education staff to develop and implement programming for community and youth and family audiences, university students, and museum/school partnerships. Interns will participate in a full range of professional staff activities. They will also have the opportunity to conceptualize and write for gallery installations and exhibitions when the exhibition schedule allows. All interns will assist with a variety of departmental duties in order to gain broad understanding of museum operations, including attending various staff meetings and assisting with museum-wide responsibilities, for example serving at the Welcome Desk or a Study Center.
Additional Information:
Additional Information:
- This internship is an hourly, approximately 20 hours/week, position for 24, 2-week pay periods.
- This position is an 11-month (24 pay periods) appointment beginning August 17, 2026 and ending July 16, 2027.
- This position is also eligible to participate in the university health insurance program. Visit http://policy.ku.edu/graduate-studies/benefits-for-GRAs-GTAs-GAs for more information.
- Students may apply for one or more positions.
- Students who previously have held an SMA internship are also eligible to apply again for the same internships or different internship.
- Interns are also eligible for a $1,000 travel stipend contingent upon available funding.
- SMA interns receive a tuition waiver for up to 9 credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters.
Job Description
85%- Education Programming and Engagement
- Assist in preparing materials for Spencer docent and Spencer student ambassador training, attending bi-monthly meetings, and train to give tours.
- Assist with the Museum/School program for K-12 teachers and students.
- Assist education staff in the development of museum interpretives both digital and analog
- Assist in developing and conducting youth & family programs such as the monthly Art Cart.
- Assist with the Lending Collection and other school outreach initiatives
- Participate in and organize additional outreach programming.
- Attend Museum and departmental meetings.
- Other duties as specified.
- Maintain familiarity with current exhibitions/events/objects on display.
- Attend related lectures and other events on campus and in the community.
- As appropriate, participate in related project-based meetings, departmental meetings, as well as SMA staff meetings.
- Participate in intern meetings and activities, including collaborative intern project.
- Perform other duties and special projects as specified.
Required Qualifications
- Must be a University of Kansas graduate student seeking a master's or Ph.D. degree, as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Enrolled in six credit hours of graduate coursework or at least one hour of thesis/dissertation (approval form from graduate program required), as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Strong spoken and written communication, as evidenced by application materials and interview.
- Demonstrated computer competency (Office, Outlook, databases, web skills), as evidenced by application materials and interview.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of object-based teaching and learning, as evidenced in application materials.
- Willingness to work independently and in collaboration with museum staff.
- Specialized skills in design, desktop publishing, and/or social media.
- Interest in pursuing a museum career, as evidenced in application materials.
- Acceptance of Federal Work Study (for eligibility please fill out a FAFSA form through the KU Financial Aid Office).
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
The Spencer Museum of Art currently has multiple internship opportunities available beginning August 2026 through July 2027. Please rank in order of preference which internship you prefer to be considered in your cover letter, as well as be sure to apply to EACH of the internships you are interested in. To ensure consideration, please apply by February 8th, 2026.
Please provide the following information in your application materials (CV and cover letter):
Please provide the following information in your application materials (CV and cover letter):
- Museum or related career goals.
- Educational experience in relevant fields of study.
- Work experience.
- Brief writing sample.
- Language skills.
- Other skills such as computer use, database experience, matting and framing.
- Provide telephone number and email address where you can be reached.
Contact Information to Applicants
Kristina Walker
kewalker@ku.edu
kewalker@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$20.50
Anticipated Start Date
Saturday August 1, 2026