The George W. Bush Presidential Center opened in April, but SMU students have been involved in its process and programs earlier than the recent dedication.
For new students joining the SMU community this fall, the opportunities to engage with the Bush Center are abundant and unique.
John Orrell, public affairs and marketing director for the Presidential Library and Museum, says that students are their own best opportunities – they are “responsible for coming and learning about this place.”
Whether a supporter of former President Bush or not, Orrell urges students to “put party lines aside” and take advantage of the privileged, extensive documents and resources spanning the 43rd presidency in its entirety. This includes the work of the larger web of integral people who worked for the country during the eight-year period.
Beyond the immersive opportunities for students to gain knowledge and insight from the library, Orrell emphasizes the especially “hands-on” internship positions available for students studying public affairs and history – especially those studying to be archivists.
“I want SMU students to get entrenched,” Orrell says of the internship programs.
Internship positions are competitive, and Orrell says that though there are no grade-level requirements set currently, the position being applied for must be applicable to the student’s career path, in addition to a strong application and resume.
The internships at the library are unique from some of the other Bush Center positions because they are government positions. Such credentials can be a possible foot in the door for future government employment.
For aspiring archivists, this could mean a later internship with the National Archives at the nation’s capital.
“We want [students] to do all the different avenues,” Orrell says of the various stepping-stones students can take to build their experiences for future internships and eventual employment.
Additional internships with the library branch of the Center are in photography and marketing, among others. Orrell also says that there are positions for students during J-term over winter break, for those looking to maximize their time away from class demands.
While these internships are unpaid, Orrell explains that there are also paid worker positions at the admissions desk reserved specifically for SMU students-a great way to make connections, gain knowledge and experience, and receive compensation.
