Are you, or do you know of, a student interested in the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic resources? The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) in Washington, D.C. has spring semester internship opportunities available for undergraduate or graduate students. Interns will be supervised by ACHP Chair Sara Bronin and will do research to inform policy development and agency guidance. These internships may be done virtually, in person, or on a hybrid basis, and the number of hours per week is flexible. 

A small, independent federal agency, the ACHP oversees the historic preservation review process for federal projects and manages a variety of preservation programs dealing with national preservation policy and legislation, Native American interests, climate change and sustainability, promoting public appreciation of cultural heritage, building a more inclusive preservation program, workforce development, and youth engagement.

Candidates should have an interest in historic preservation and may come from a wide variety of disciplines, such as history, planning, law, architectural history,  archaeology, economics, architectural design, geography, cultural resource management, communications, or education. Relevant skills include strong research, writing, and organizational ability as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Specific assignments are developed based on current agency needs and the skills and interests of selected interns. We encourage applications from students at minority-serving institutions.

Interns will become familiar with the full range of work of the agency through orientation and training, and by participating in meetings to observe the development and implementation of federal historic preservation policy. They may also participate in programs with others interning at related agencies and organizations. The ACHP assists interns with networking and advice.

Who Is Eligible?

ACHP Chair's Internships are open to current students who will receive financial support for the internship from their academic institution, the ACHP Foundation, or another source. Also eligible are current students seeking course credit as part of an academic program (e.g., a Semester in DC program) in which they cannot be paid. All Chair’s interns can receive academic credit if they meet the requirements of their programs. Interns funded by the ACHP Foundation will receive a stipend equivalent to $15/hour.

How to Apply - Deadline – December 18, 2024

Interested applicants should apply by submitting a complete application and a resume. Save the filled-out form on your computer as a pdf, reopen it to make sure the content is retained, and then attach it to an email along with your resume.  Send to Internship Program Coordinator, internships@achp.gov.

Potential Spring 2024 Chair’s Internships Projects

• Draft case studies/best practices summaries based on capsule descriptions submitted by federal agencies when asked for good examples of their efforts related to climate change and historic properties. The intern(s) would do further research on the projects, programs, and tools highlighted by the agencies and select several to expand into case studies/best practice summaries that would serve as useful models.
  
• Undertake a literature search to gather baseline information for understanding the following issue raised in the ACHP climate change policy statement: ". . . the National Flood Insurance Program should be reviewed to explore how the program might further encourage the modification or relocation of historic buildings to enhance their resiliency, and to evaluate the impacts of waivers issued for historic properties upon community and building resiliency, public cost, and economic growth."
  
• Research case law to explain the courts' approach to defining a "major federal action" under the National Environmental Policy Act in comparison to an "undertaking" under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The research would involve locating and reviewing cases with NEPA and Section 106 claims, identifying how the courts distinguish between the scope and requirements of each threshold determination, and explain the legal difference between a major federal action and an undertaking. Ideally, this research would be done by someone in their second year (or later) in law school. 
  
• Continue the development and implementation of the “Preserve the Past, Build for the Future” webinar series, designed to introduce college students to preservation careers; research and write social media posts and content for the ACHP website.
  
• Assist the Chair of the ACHP with various projects as assigned.
  

Past interns say…

“I have enjoyed meeting with directors and staff from the different offices and [partner] agencies and learning about their work… [I]t was fascinating to hear about the different career paths within historic preservation and to receive advice regarding making the most of our internship…very eye opening to see the different possibilities of work within the field of historic preservation and how I might want to be involved." - Nikki Vafai, Chair's Intern (2023); J.D. student, University of Maryland Carey School of Law

“I was not only afforded the opportunity to immerse myself in preservation law and policy at the national level, but my eyes were also opened to a wealth of interesting possibilities throughout the preservation world. My supervisor was incredibly instrumental in helping me draft my research, cultivate professional connections, and explore opportunities for success in my prospective career.” - Jonathan Stark-Sachs, Law & Policy Fellow, National Park Service; Office of General Counsel Intern (2019); J.D. /M.S., Law and Historic Preservation