Cohort 3

Chelsea Arenas (‘20)

At the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Chelsea had the opportunity to explore different facets of museum work. This included: Raising public awareness about the museum, its exhibitions and public programs; working to promote the concept of design and design thinking; learning museum-specific operations systems; assisting with fundraising efforts and general administrative tasks to support different departmental goals. Chelsea worked closely with the  curatorial research assistant (American Art) assisting with research and cataloguing the American works on paper collection in the Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design Department. Chelsea conducted original research to thoroughly catalogue objects in The Museum System (TMS), referencing the museum’s cataloguing cards, accession ledgers, registrar’s files and all subsequent scholarship to determine accurate titles, dates, related works and provenance history. Chelsea also had the opportunity to publish writing that reflected original research on the museum’s Object of the Day blog. 

Chelsea graduated in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and a second major in German. After her time as a Mellon Arts fellow, Chelsea interned at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and completed her MFA degree at Hunter. She is now a curatorial and programs intern at Triangle Arts Association.

Aissatou Bah (‘20)

Aissatou’s internship in the Education Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which also encompasses Met Live Arts) focused on making art enjoyable through a wide array of programs for all audiences: advanced scholars or first-time visitors; families with young children or independent teens; students on a class visit or teachers seeking guidance in incorporating art into school curricula. Aissatou worked on projects such as developing and executing educational events for all age groups, supporting art making activities, and assisting in running and planning large festival events. She conducted research on leading and planning studio art educational programs, creating generative art-making spaces, ways to better interact with visitors and on designing educational events for people of all age groups.

Aissatou graduated from Hunter in 2020 as a MUSE scholar and documentary and film major. After graduation, Aissatou began working as VH1 ambassador brand creative at Viacom. She is currently in the marketing department at Seed of Fortune Inc.

Maimuna Begum (‘20)

Within the development department of the Brooklyn Museum, Maimuna had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of development research and major gifts fundraising, and connect with the Brooklyn Museum’s key supporters and influencers. Her internship supported efforts to steward and cultivate members of the board of trustees and advisors and the museum’s interest-based patron groups by: researching new prospects for exhibition support, interest-based patron groups, and major gift/capital campaign fundraising; organizing proposals for upcoming exhibitions; providing support during patron events, including curator-led tours and visits to artists’ studios; assisting with board travel and trip planning; and performing general administrative tasks including helping with donor mailings, invoices, acknowledgment letters and appeals. Maimuna also had the opportunity to gain an understanding of the planning, management and execution of fundraising for both internal and external events in the Special Events and Rental Department.

Maimuna graduated in 2020 as a sociology major with a minor in human rights and Asian-American studies. With her experience as a Mellon fellow, Maimuna landed a job in the NY State District 22 Senator’s Office, helping with fundraising for Senator Andrew Gounardes.

Devin Halbal (‘20)

Devin had the chance to participate in all aspects of the Frick Collection museum and library, and interact with staff across the institution and the public. Their work consisted of staffing gallery events, researching ways to involve schools in the community, directing school tours around the museum and leading bi-weekly gallery talks for the public. As the Frick Collection planned to expand and begin construction on their building, Devin attended planning meetings and learned the ins and outs of dealing with local officials, national authorities and foundations. Devin graduated in 2020 as a media major and human rights minor. 

In the spring following the fellowship, Devin began working at the LGBTQ Center. There, Devin is an information and referral specialist, where she connects people with mental health, legal, housing and other services.

Anjelica James (‘20)

At National Sawdust, Anjelica mostly worked in the programming department, reporting to the director of National Sawdust Projects & Community Engagement. Her main responsibility was to support the planning and producing of National Sawdust projects through research and administrative tasks, as well as on the ground support on event days.

Anjelica engaged with the following activities as part of the role:

• Supported the planning and scheduling of events including The Gauntlet at Rockefeller Center, Student CoLab and Artist-in-Residence Community Workshops.
• Attended workshops, rehearsals and performances as a member of the producing team.
• Attended meetings relating to events and projects with artists and stakeholders, and internal programming and production meetings.
• Undertook administrative tasks including preparing and filing contracts, tracking communication and completing technical documents.
• Booked accommodation and travel for touring projects.
• Prepared materials for rehearsals and workshops.
• Supported community outreach efforts.
• Performed multiple research tasks.
  

Anjelica graduated in 2020 as a MUSE scholar with a double major in music and English with a concentration in creative writing.

Yanitza Lee (‘20)

Yanitza’s internship at the Bloomingdale School of Music was a unique opportunity to gain experience in many different capacities at a community music school. She worked with multiple essential departments throughout her time at Bloomingdale:

• Development: Yanitza led the data rollover project and assisted in the preparation for a new donor database; aided in the creation of database protocols; conducted prospect research for institutions and individuals; created reports for institutions; ran the acknowledgment process for institutional donations.
• Marketing/Communications: Created content and manager calendar for social media coverage; YouTube channel uploads; uploaded events to parenting website listings.
• Registration: Some filing/organization of historical student info and registration forms; projects maintaining and updating student info in the ASAP registration system, such as addresses and school info; interacted with students and families after school to disseminate information about upcoming events and registration periods; called students to gather feedback on their experience at the school, and helping analyze and present feedback data.
  

Yanitza graduated with a music performance degree in 2020 with a concentration in classical voice. Yanitza was offered a permanent position at Bloomingdale School of Music following her internship, and continues to work there while she pursues her  MA in music therapy at NYU.

Joshua Martinez (‘21)

Joshua’s Carnegie Hall internship as part of Carnegie’s Social Impact Program Team supported the following initiatives:

• Musical Connections – work in juvenile justice and adult corrections. 
  
• Create Justice – national initiative working with organizations around justice initiatives.
  
• Future Music Project – after-school programs for teens. 
  
• NeON Arts – creative projects with teens at local community-based probation offices called Neighborhood Opportunity Networks (NeONs). 
  
• NYSCA Program – regranting program that provides creative opportunities to teens in upstate New York correctional facilities.
  

Joshua was responsible for assisting NeON Arts programs on site; supporting the program’s management and collection of data; aiding in the production and research of NeON Inspires initiatives; and developing a calendar of conference and learning and engagement opportunities for SIP administration to engage in nationally and locally that is centered on arts and justice work. He supported the research of identifying New York State arts education programs, preparing audio and video content (SoundCloud, YouTube, dubbing of tapes for musical connections etc.), and assisting the Social Impact Programs Team from artistic support to logistics. Joshua graduated from Hunter in spring 2021.

Demie Medley (‘19)

Demie worked as the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production assistant intern, which has allowed her to assist the stage manager and staff in the daily administrative and production operations for the company’s summer and fall productions. Duties included assisting the stage management team with rehearsal logistics, backstage run during performances and general office duties. As the production assistant intern, Demie was involved from a show’s first day of rehearsals through its closing night.

Demie continued to stay in touch with the Classical Theatre of Harlem after her internship through their “Behind the Curtain” digital hub that has been very active during these quarantine months. Demie graduated in 2019 as a theater major and dance minor. She is currently applying for a graduate degree in education with hopes of teaching drama in schools.

Elda Monterroso (‘20)

Elda provided essential support and research for institutional giving partners at the Atlantic Theater Company. She had the opportunity to meet such donors during her frequent work at opening night performances at the company’s multiple theaters. Elda was additionally a co-writer on a handful of proposals and gained experience writing letters of intent for the company.

After her internship, Elda stayed in touch with the ATC community and worked their fundraising gala in March 2020.

Elda graduated in 2020 with a degree in creative writing. She currently works with the writer Bruce Feiler, and assisted him with his most recent book release, Life is in the Transitions.