After the pandemic paused Lewis & Clark’s long-standing New York City off-campus program, its return came with a chance to rethink it from the ground up. Professor of Theatre Rebecca Lingafelter led the effort that resulted in a revitalized trip this past fall, helping shape a semester that more deliberately connects academic study, internships, and the cultural life of one of the world’s most influential cities.
“Rebuilding the program after the pandemic was an opportunity to be really intentional,” says Lingafelter. “We asked what students need right now—not just academically, but professionally—and how New York City can support both of those goals in a meaningful way.”
Prior to the program, Lingafelter leveraged her professional contacts and worked with alumni to compile a list of more than 50 organizations interested in hiring students for internships. Using that list as a starting point, students arranged interviews—often cold-calling contacts from a variety of industries—and secured positions before arriving in the city.
Students interned with a variety of organizations, including Abrams Books, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and the Bushwick Starr theatre.
The coursework was equally immersive: an art course that viewed the city through museums and galleries, a theatre class that focused on performances and guest speakers, and a history course that examined the built environment through walking tours.
As Lingafelter puts it, “The courses, the internships, and the city are always in conversation with one another.”
