New mentoring fellowship will give students hands-on museum experience

While University Museums at Iowa State offers internships ranging from curation to communications, a newly announced fellowship aims to streamline the student experience, offer mentorship and give students a more in-depth look at a museum career.

The newly-established Lynette Pohlman Museum Fellowship's purpose is to "provide one-on-one mentoring to selected undergraduates to help them develop the knowledge and specialized skills required for continued education or securing a job in the burgeoning and flourishing museum field." The fellowship program was established by the estate of Lori A. Jacobson, whose career was launched through her internship with the Brunnier Art Museum during her undergraduate years at Iowa State. She chose to name the fellowship for her mentor, University Museums' long-time Director and Chief Curator Lynette Pohlman.

"Lynette made a big difference in Lori's life," said her husband Jason Kogan. "She had someone who not only directed her, but created a personal connection. Lori wanted other students to have the opportunity for the same experience."

The inaugural undergraduate fellow is Sarah Bartlett, a senior in anthropology, classical studies and political science. She was selected from a pool of applicants as the 2019-2020 Lynette Pohlman Museum Fellow. She previously worked as an intern with University Museums prior to becoming the Pohlman Fellow.

"I wanted to get broader experience in the museum field," Bartlett said. "I also wanted to obtain a position that would show me exactly what all the professional staff do at the museum to get a better feel for what I want to pursue in the future."