Memos from the Museum World: Student Practicum Updates (May 2025)

Welcome to Memos from the Museum World, a series that highlights the wonderful work our Tufts students are doing as they complete the in-field practicum component of the Museum Studies Program. Each student has a unique practicum experience, and we are excited to share the impacts they are making on the field in their own words. Check back throughout the year for more practicum updates from the Class of 2026!

Sydney Slack: Programs Fellow, Boston Children’s Museum

What have you been up to as a part of your practicum?

The Programs Fellows at the Boston Children’s Museum wear a lot of different hats, since we work with so many different departments. First and foremost, we help with programs and even get to create some original programs of our own. We also help with collections inventorying, writing alt-text for marketing, collecting data for evaluation, etc. It’s something a little different everyday, so you never get bored!

What has been the most impactful moment during your Practicum experience?

As a Programs Fellow, I get to work with a bunch of different departments. Everything from Collections to Marketing. So I’d say it’s less of a singular most impactful moment, and more that I am so glad that I get to experience so many different aspects of the museum world to really inform where I want to take my career. Though I’m sure when I actually get to run the program I’m in the process of creating will also be a huge highlight!

What is something you’ve gained that you’d like to take with you into your future career?

One thing that my site supervisor advises me to do is to really observe the people I work with and note which of their habits are things I would like to emulate. Now, this can be pretty tricky when you are actively working with them. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from both this experience and the Museum Studies program generally, it’s how important it is to learn from other people, and this is just another way of doing that. 

Sophie DeWitt: Arms and Armor Intern, Worcester Art Museum

What have you been up to as a part of your practicum?

I worked with the curatorial team in the final months leading up to the opening of the permanent arms and armor galleries at WAM. Coming on in the eleventh hour means I’ve gotten to do all manner of things, including working on interactive elements, creating graphics, and doing conservation work.

What has been the most impactful moment during your Practicum experience?

By far the most impactful thing I’ve gotten to do, the thing I brag about to absolutely anyone who will listen, was getting to work with the A&A conservator Bill MacMillan on restoring an Indian mail set from the 19th century. I’d never done conservation work before and was equally intrigued and intimidated by it, but after getting to try my hand at it I can say with confidence that I would happily sit on the floor weaving tiny links together every day if given the opportunity.

What is something you’ve gained that you’d like to take with you into your future career?

The through line with all the projects I found most enjoyable was a connection to art and design, which shouldn’t be as surprising given my art background, but prior to this internship I had felt that art-making and museum work would be separate parts of my life. Through the design and conservation work I’ve gotten a better understanding of how those two could intermingle in my professional life, and I have a direction to pursue when seeking out future career opportunities.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your practicum?

The arms and armor galleries officially open November 22nd, and if you’re reading this, you should take a trip out to Worcester to see them as soon as you can! The open storage gallery in particular is going to be, in the purest sense of the word, awesome.