Summer Jobs

This summer, students from Carnegie Mellon University's Master of Arts Management (MAM) program plunged into competitive internships at world-renowned institutions from coast-to-coast and beyond.

At organizations such as the Whitney Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Americans for the Arts, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and Washington Performing Arts, interns created employee manuals, wrote communication plans for member newsletters, analyzed ticket sales data and created millennial-engagement strategies.

The MAM program's unique setup helps students rise to the top of applicant pools.

"The primary reason people choose our program is because of the quantitatively-focused and practical curriculum — students come out with robust skills in economics, marketing, technology and finance within the context of arts and culture," said MAM Program Director Kathryn Heidemann. "We also create an experiential learning environment that extends far beyond the classroom. Through internships, apprenticeships, capstone projects with real-life clients and other hands-on exercises, we really want the students to learn by doing and provide a platform for cultivating leadership."

Jennifer Moreci (MAM'15) put her experience to work at the Americans for the Arts. She wrote topic briefings for the Seminar for Leadership in the Arts and the National Arts Policy Roundtable, both focused on the intersection of arts and technology.

"I had a really solid foundation of knowledge to write these papers for our constituents. I was able to delve even further into field research to create a clear picture for our guests, but also broaden my own literacy of the subject," Moreci said. "It was rewarding to be able to share some of the accomplishments I witnessed during my time at CMU from the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry and many of our other successful interdisciplinary initiatives."

Stewart Urist (MAM'15) broadened his resume. Already experienced in ticket sales, marketing and fundraising, he opted into the O'Neill Theatre's business office. There he reconciled the bank accounts, revamped the employee manual, and prepared weekly reports on the operating accounts.

His experience at CMU and at the O'Neill sharpened his career focus.

"I came in to the program with the very firm goal of getting the skills I needed to found a youth-focused theater, producing work for kids, by kids. I'm very still passionate about this model, and about providing opportunities for children to engage with the arts. However, my time at CMU and with the O'Neill has also given me a love for companies which develop new work and provide opportunities for emerging artists. I'd love to be able to find a way to feed both of these passions in the future," Urist said.

Messay Derebe (MAM'15), who had a career in finance and plays the violin, joined the MAM program to learn about the arts industry.

"The CMU program is perfect because it incorporates the quantitative skills, like analytics, with the qualitative, like change management and strategic thinking," Derebe said.

Her internship at the Washington Performing Arts was all about change. The organization was going through a rebranding process.

"Seeing the structural and cultural transformation that a change like that necessitates was fascinating, even if at times, uncomfortable. It was change-management in action," Derebe said.

Cicely Wootan (MAM'00) is the director of corporate development at the Guggenheim Museum. She has worked with a number of MAM interns. She starts talking with potential candidates as early as October.

"I like to have them because of the experience they tend to bring to the job and to help support the MAM program," Wootan said. "Their education sets them up to succeed in this internship."

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