The program will integrate revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners.
by SAM PESHEK
UNO Director of Editorial and Media Relations
UNO was awarded a Mellon Foundation grant in March 2026 to launch Humanities in Action: The Maverick Internship Program, a cross-college initiative designed to expand access to paid, credit-bearing internship opportunities for humanities majors.
With the grant, UNO’s College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media will design, implement, and scale a coordinated internship program that allows humanities students to apply classroom learning in professional, civic, and public-sector contexts. The program will integrate career preparation directly into the curriculum through new and revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners.
“UNO’s humanities programs prepare students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage ethically, skills that are essential and increasingly important in professional life,” said Dr. Melanie Bloom, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and principal investigator for the project.
Dr. Tanushree Ghosh, co-principal investigator and Chair of the Department of English, adds “We hope that these humanities internships show students how the skills honed in the humanities classroom translate directly into real-world problem solving, professional collaboration, and meaningful impact beyond the university.”
Humanities in Action will build partnerships with organizations such as the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands and the Nebraska Business Development Center to develop a wide range of internship placements. “The Humanities in Action grant is an excellent articulation of UNO’s urban, metropolitan mission,” said Dr. Julie Dierberger, co-principal investigator and Paul Sather Distinguished Director of the Office of Engagement. “We know this will expand learning, increase partner capacity, and strengthen students’ connection to Omaha.”
Interested in partnering with UNO’s Humanities in Action Internship Program? Connect with the HIA Internship Coordinator Michael Gutierrez-Madrigal at [email protected] or 402.554.4995.
