6. Designing Better Museum Internships (for Interns AND Institutions) with Sierra Von Ryck DeGroot

In this episode of Curate Your Career, Alli Schell is joined by Sierra Van Ryck DeGroot, Associate Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for an honest conversation about internships in the museum field: what works, what doesn’t, and what should change.Together, they unpack their own formative internship experiences, the role of mentorship and representation, and why meaningful, paid internships are essential for building a more equitable museum field. Sierra shares how strong mentors shaped her career path, how interns benefit from being encouraged to explore beyond their assigned roles, and why feedback from interns should actively shape program design.To learn more about the Met's internship programs: https://www.metmuseum.org/opportunities/internshipsThis episode is for:Students and early-career museum professionals navigating internshipsMuseum staff designing or supervising internship programsAnyone questioning whether internships actually serve the future of the fieldEpisode Chapters00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome02:15 – Influential internship experiences05:48 – The importance of paid internships08:52 – Sierra’s museum origin story21:04 – Designing meaningful internship programs28:54 – Mentorship and its long-term impact32:50 – Networking beyond transactions37:11 – Building professional relationships44:30 – Internship experience & resume building49:31 – Feedback, evaluation, and growth53:24 – Top tips for interns01:01:34 – Advocating for fair compensationKeywords:internships, museum internships, museum education, mentorship, networking, professional development, paid internships, resume tips, museum careers, internship programs