Eastern Student Kelsey Tuller of Tolland Completes Semester-Long Internship

2015 Jul 28

Kelsey Tuller '15 of Tolland recently wrapped up an internship at Eastern's Art and Art History Department. Tuller's major is History.

Tuller worked as a research assistant intern with Professor Anne Dawson. Some of her tasks included looking at census records, old newspapers and other primary source documents such as court records.

When asked, Tuller outlined the importance of internships for Eastern students. "Internships are incredibly important because they get you out of the classroom and challenges what you learned there. You can end up learning about a lot of things you never anticipated or considered. One of the most important things you learn is whether or not you actually enjoy doing that kind of work, which you definitely want to know prior to graduation," she said.

Tuller was appreciative of the opportunity to work with Dawson in a setting where she was able to learn valuable research skills. "My internship has given me a lot of experience in the kind of research I will need to do in the future as a historian or archeologist. I've also learned about the process of writing an academic book of this kind, which is invaluable," Tuller said.

The Center for Internships and Career Development is a valuable resource for students as it promotes strong partnerships between Eastern and potential employers.The Center plays an integral role in fostering excellence in career development and preparation among Eastern students and provides current information on the real workforce needs of employers, which students can use to their advantage. It also helps employment recruiters discover, recruit and hire Eastern students and alumni. They also work closely with companies who are hiring for internships or entry-level career positions in order to learn current and future workforce requirements. They then communicate this information to academic departments to align curriculum with labor market needs.