Huntington Times

Marshall University has secured a five-year, $2.82 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to develop and expand internship opportunities for students in humanities disciplines within its College of Liberal Arts (COLA). The initiative aims to provide students with practical experience while supporting local agencies that depend on interns.

Dr. Robert Bookwalter, the principal investigator for the grant and dean of the college, will lead this effort alongside faculty members Dr. Richard G. Jones Jr., Dr. Eric Lassiter, Dr. Del Chrol, and Dr. Greta Rensenbrink.

The program targets students majoring in English, Humanities, Communication Studies, History, Philosophy, Latin, and Modern Languages by offering paid internships to overcome financial barriers associated with unpaid positions. Students will receive an hourly wage for their work; faculty mentors and agency supervisors will be compensated for their roles in facilitating these internships.

“This project will dramatically increase the number of professional internships for students in the College of Liberal Arts while expanding capacity for dozens of service agencies in the region,” Bookwalter stated. “Thanks to the Mellon Foundation, over 300 liberal arts students will be adding professional community experience to their college credentials through this program.”

Phillip Brian Harper from the Mellon Foundation noted that “this grant is part of Mellon’s ongoing effort to encourage more undergraduates to study the humanities.” He emphasized that connecting humanities coursework with meaningful employment could counter misconceptions about its practicality.

The initiative is expected to more than double available internship opportunities at Marshall University by linking academic learning with real-world experience. This approach benefits both students and community agencies by providing valuable skills and furthering organizational missions.

To ensure sustainability beyond five years, the Mellon Foundation plans to match up to $1 million in endowed funds as part of a long-term vision for continued support.

The program is scheduled to commence in spring 2025 with plans for significant expansion thereafter.