Interns Make Their Mark on the O’Keeffe in 2025
Every summer, a group of young adults complete internships at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. This paid opportunity provides college students with an impactful experience to learn about the arts and museum field.
Each of the interns had strong ties to New Mexico, with some who grew up in the Land of Enchantment, and some who attend one of the state’s colleges or universities.
“This year, we made an effort to focus closer to home and we were lucky to receive many great applications from talented and deserving New Mexicans and area college students,” Director of Learning & Engagement (L&E) Angie Chandler said.
Four interns assisted with the day-to-day operations of the Art & Leadership (A&L) Program, the Museum’s free summer program for middle school students, while two others spent the summer in the Learning & Engagement Department and the Curatorial Department, focusing on interpretation.
The L&E Intern, Draven Gallegos, and Interpretation Intern, Laila Halloul, collaborated on a mock-exhibition proposal that explored the process of conservation and how the Museum fulfills its duty to preserve O’Keeffe works for future generations. Gallegos made proposals to engage audiences with programming like after-hours scavenger hunts and exploring tactile paintings, while Halloul conducted curatorial and audience research. After observing visitors in the galleries, Halloul would ask them questions about their viewing patterns, like why they were drawn to certain artworks for longer periods than others. This research will help to inform curatorial decisions as galleries are reorganized or new exhibitions are installed.
Carolyn Jones, Jane Henry, Claudia Marin, and Kristen Rodgers served as interns for the Art & Leadership Program with a goal of addressing the gap in artistic development between elementary and high school while focusing on independent thinking, building self-esteem, and strengthening self-respect.
The A&L interns focused on creating their own lessons for students and in collaboration with teaching artists ranging in curriculum sculptures, print making, watercolors, collage, ceramics, micaceous clay, fused glass, and large-scale murals.
After learning more about lesson planning and classroom management, Jones, a student at UNM, said she “gained confirmation about her desire to become an educator, and after a successful internship, she can confidently and ambitiously pursue a career as a teacher.”
The interns also went on site visits to some of the region’s arts and culture highlights, including the O’Keeffe homes in Abiquiú and at Ghost Ranch, the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary, the Albuquerque Museum, and the Santa Fe Opera. Learn more about the interns below:
Draven Gallegos
Albuquerque, NM | Current Graduate Student, University of New Mexico
Learning & Engagement Intern
Draven plans to study radiology in graduate school so she can utilize the technology in art conservation and restoration. A highlight of the summer was visiting the Museum’s conservation studio and spending the summer in art-filled Santa Fe.
Laila Halloul
El Paso, TX | Current Student, University of New Mexico
Interpretation Intern
Laila is studying history and museum studies with a passion for working in the museum field in the future. She most enjoyed learning more about exhibitions and how they are created, public programming, and modern art during her time at the O’Keeffe.
Jane Henry
Santa Fe, NM | Recent Graduate, Maryland Institute College of Art
Art & Leadership Intern
As an alumna of the Art & Leadership program, Jane was excited to be back with the program, this time as an intern. She created unique classes like Making Monsters, where students created their own mythical creature, including a short narrative to describe its life.
Carolyn Jones
Albuquerque, NM | Current Student, University of New Mexico
Art & Leadership Intern
As an aspiring teacher, Carolyn was most excited for the opportunity to lead sessions and work directly with students. She enjoys painting and plans to become an educator and travel extensively in the future.
Claudia Marin
Santa Fe, NM | Current Student, University of New Mexico
Art & Leadership Intern
A graduate of New Mexico School for the Arts, a lifelong Santa Fe resident, and a full-time employee on the Museum’s Visitor Services Team, Claudia created lessons in animation where students learned basic skills and developed their own animations. She hopes to pursue a career in children’s television using her education in animation with areas of study in Chicano studies and studio art.
Kristen Rodgers
Smithville, MO | Current Student, University of New Mexico
Art & Leadership Intern
Kristen wanted to learn more about art education in the Art & Leadership Program, and she was happy to have accomplished that goal. She enjoyed learning and teaching about different art media, especially the door murals.
