NMAH and OHR Break New Ground at Gallaudet University

Museum Technician and Gallaudet Alum Drew Robarge speaking to Gallauset students.

A student raises her hand to ask a question. Omar looks at the student, but the words are being spoken by another woman who interprets what the student says. Welcome to Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university in the world for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. Omar Eaton-Martinez, John Chiu, and Drew Robarge ventured northeast to Gallaudet to give an informational session. Omar spoke about the wide variety of internships that are available at the Smithsonian. John discussed the Pathways program that would allow students and recent graduates to get working experience with the possibility of being converted to a permanent position. As a proud alumnus of Gallaudet, Drew spoke about his work experience at the Smithsonian, how he became intern at the Smithsonian as well as how it led to his present permanent job, and the different opportunities for internship at the Smithsonian. It was perhaps the first time that the American History museum had done an informational session at Gallaudet despite being only a few miles away and allowed us to expand the outreach of the internship program as well as general awareness of the Smithsonian Institution.

by Drew Robarge, NMAH Museum Technician, Medicine and Science Division