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If you have ever wandered the galleries at the Fleming Museum of Art, you’ll have seen and interacted with our incredible student employees. Every semester, the Museum hires around 40 to 50 students to work as our front desk and gallery attendants. Coming from a variety of different majors and life experiences, they all have one thing in common: they make the Fleming a better place.  

Through the National Student Employment Association (NSEA), National Student Employment Week is celebrated each year in April across the country to recognize and appreciate the invaluable service of both student employees and student employment professionals. To celebrate, we spoke to a few of our students whose enthusiasm, dedication, and initiative have made a positive impact at the Fleming. 

“Our students are the eyes and ears of the museum, and the first point of contact for visitors,” says Bella Anastasio, the Museum’s Operations and Visitor Services Coordinator. “They are vital to the museum experience, and to the safety of our artworks. The students featured here have gone out of their way to be particularly engaged and enthusiastic members of the Fleming community. They have improved the Fleming by committing their time and energy, and by engaging in discussions with visitors, staff, and other students about how the museum can better serve the �պ����� community. I am so lucky to get to work with such driven, smart, fun, and kind students!” 

Below are their thoughts on museum life, what they’ve learned so far, and what having an art museum on campus can bring to the university experience.  

What do you think are the benefits of having a museum on campus? 

“The museum is a such a conducive space for learning and thought. The environment is perfect for studying, creating, or whatever intellectual purpose you may have for it. It's also an amazing place to simply relax. The energy in the building is just perfect for education and also fun,” explained Braedyn Efaw, Sustainability, Ecology and Policy ‘26. 

“Aside from it just being a great resource for people on and off campus,” stated Kaiden Lytle, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology ‘25, “…I think having a museum on campus creates an avenue for important dialogue regarding museums and university collections and the community at large.”  

Could you share one pro-tip about visiting museums? 

Xochi Kajatt, Studio Art ’24 advised, “Hmmm, the attention to detail that the team pays is far closer than you might imagine. From the flow of the gallery to the color of the walls to how bright the lights are, everyone has put thought into making the experience one that hopefully makes a lasting impression. With that, my pro-tip would be to explore museums like you're the one who put it all together. Be curious about why these paintings are grouped together (maybe there's a cool motif) or why the wall is a certain color (maybe it really makes the pieces POP) or how the lights are serving the exhibit (maybe a spotlight would've been too harsh). You'd be surprised!” 

What have you learned while working at the Fleming that has helped you in either your studies at �պ����� or in another professional setting? 

“Working around art every day and having to know basic facts about everything to answer guests’ questions has really helped me connect with my studies more on a personal level,” wrote Lucien Quinones, Art History ‘27. “It’s not just me looking at pictures, but I can go and see real life examples of whatever I’m studying and work with them in a professional way. Working at the Fleming also allows me to consider what approaches I’ll take in my own museum career, to critically think about the way the Fleming is curated as well as other museums and think about how I’ll approach my own work.”  

“Working at the Fleming has given me so many opportunities to practice facilitating events, networking, and work on my professionalism skills. [It’s] ...allowed me to learn the behind-the-scenes of running a museum and has helped me think more critically in my classes,” stated Caroline Hess, Anthropology ‘24. 

How has working at the Fleming helped prepare you for the future? 

“Working at the Fleming has introduced me to ideas of career paths I couldn’t have even imagined pursuing and has helped me learn how to have more thoughtful conversations about art and its impact!” remarked Sarah Stevens, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism ’25.  

And when asked what their favorite thing was about working at the Fleming, every single participant stated some version of: The people.  

Hear more from our featured students over on the , now through April 12.