Are you, or do you know of, a student interested in the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic resources? The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) in Washington, D.C. has fall semester internship opportunities available for undergraduate or graduate students. Interns will be supervised by ACHP Chair Sara Bronin and will do research to inform policy development and agency guidance. These internships may be done virtually, in person, or on a hybrid basis, and the number of hours per week is flexible.
A small, independent federal agency, the ACHP oversees the historic preservation review process for federal projects and manages a variety of preservation programs dealing with national preservation policy and legislation, Native American interests, climate change and sustainability, promoting public appreciation of cultural heritage, building a more inclusive preservation program, workforce development, and youth engagement.
Candidates should have an interest in historic preservation and may come from a wide variety of disciplines, such as history, planning, law, architectural history, archaeology, economics, architectural design, geography, cultural resource management, communications, or education. Relevant skills include strong research, writing, and organizational ability as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Specific assignments are developed based on current agency needs and the skills and interests of selected interns. We encourage applications from students at minority-serving institutions.
Who Is Eligible?
ACHP Chair's Internships are open to current students who will receive financial support for the internship from the ACHP Foundation, their academic institution, or another source. Also eligible are current students seeking course credit as part of an academic program (e.g., a Semester in DC program) in which they cannot be paid. All Chair’s interns can receive academic credit if they meet the requirements of their programs. Interns funded by the ACHP Foundation will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hour.
How to Apply - Deadline – August 14, 2023
Interested applicants should apply by submitting a complete application and a resume. Save the filled-out form on your computer as a pdf, reopen it to make sure the content is retained, and then attach it to an email along with your resume. Send to Internship Program Coordinator, internships@achp.gov.
Potential Fall 2023 Chair’s Internships Projects
- Produce a memo that provides an introduction to intellectual property laws and how they relate to cultural resource information (e.g., information from archeological sites; traditional knowledge).
- Identify and analyze state "Section 106" laws, noting: the scope of the laws; what triggers the laws; whether "historic properties" as defined by the National Register are covered; what, if any, mitigation is required; whether the relevant State Historic Preservation Office has a formal role; etc.
- Research state/local burial laws; develop recommendations for incorporating principles from ACHP's burial policy at the state/local/nongovernmental level.
- Enhance the content and resources about climate change already on the ACHP's website. Increase content on best practices; case studies (including examples we previously solicited from federal agencies); and educational centers leading in research and training.
- Conduct a literature review of studies documenting the costs of rehabilitating historic buildings for housing (including affordable housing) relative to the costs of new construction.
- Strategize on the format and content of the ACHP Section 106 Case Book, 1966-2000, and start to populate same.
Past interns say…
“I have enjoyed meeting with directors and staff from the different offices and [partner] agencies and learning about their work… [I]t was fascinating to hear about the different career paths within historic preservation and to receive advice regarding making the most of our internship…very eye opening to see the different possibilities of work within the field of historic preservation and how I might want to be involved." - Nikki Vafai, Chair's Intern (2023); J.D. student, University of Maryland Carey School of Law
“I was not only afforded the opportunity to immerse myself in preservation law and policy at the national level, but my eyes were also opened to a wealth of interesting possibilities throughout the preservation world. My supervisor was incredibly instrumental in helping me draft my research, cultivate professional connections, and explore opportunities for success in my prospective career.” - Jonathan Stark-Sachs, Law & Policy Fellow, National Park Service; Office of General Counsel Intern (2019); J.D. /M.S., Law and Historic Preservation