SUMMARY: The American Historical Association (AHA) invites a Duke University doctoral student intern whose work at the Association would depend upon individual interests and skills. PhD students from all areas of the humanities and humanistic social sciences are welcome to apply.
Because the AHA’s activities are wide ranging, including both ongoing activities and major grant programs, the possible scope is broad, including data curation and analysis, reporting and writing for digital and print publications, marketing/communications, and just about any work that takes place at a scholarly society. The intern will work with AHA staff to shape a portfolio of work that best suits their interests and meets the AHA’s needs at the time of the fellowship.
The intern will learn about the world of academic associations, from scholarly societies to other kinds of advocacy work that takes place in Washington. With eight of twenty staff members holding a Ph.D. in history or a related discipline, and three more with MA’s, the AHA offers an intellectually stimulating environment as well as opportunities for a variety of work experiences relating to higher education, public humanities, publishing, and nonprofits. The location in Washington DC allows for networking with other PhDs working in the variety of cultural, non-profit, business, and higher education organizations located in the city.
The American Historical Association is the largest professional organization serving historians in all fields and all professions. The AHA has become a trusted voice for history education, the professional work of historians, and the critical role of historical thinking in public life. Learn more about our work on behalf of the entire discipline at www.historians.org.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
- Develop, edit, and write articles for the AHA’s monthly newsmagazine Perspectives on History regarding issues of interest to members of the discipline. Topics might include teaching, research, professional, and policy concerns. The Fellow will work with the magazine’s editors to develop editorial skills and experience.
- Contribute content for the AHA’s website and social media outlets, such as posts, articles or podcasts.
- Support the AHA’s ongoing data collection relating to education, scholarship, and careers in history. Work includes designing and deploying survey instruments, analyzing results, and implementing long-term strategies for data collection and management.
- Assist with the AHA’s Career Diversity for Historians initiative, including coordinating publicity efforts, supporting AHA’s Career Contacts program, and helping to administer other aspects of this grant-funded program.
- Contribute to the AHA’s BA in History project by collecting information and creating resources on the value of a history BA. Help to promote these materials to history graduates, potential majors, faculty, employers, parents, journalists, and career centers.
- Assist with the development and planning of the Annual Meeting program, including content management, and editing. Work with the staff and Program Committee to develop and market meeting content. Work with AHA staff at the Annual Meeting, the largest annual gathering of historians.
- Write marketing content for membership recruitment and development efforts.
- Assist AHA staff during bi-annual meetings of AHA Council, supporting the decision-making process of a non-profit governing board.
- Participate in the staffing of AHA committees such as the Committee on Minority Historians, the Committee on Gender Equity and the Committee on LGBTQ Status in the Profession.
