Amy Cowan ’03

Student Intern

Internship: Fall 2003
Site: Bostonian Society and Old State House Museum
Location: Boston, Mass.

Hometown: North Stonington, Conn.
Major: English and Secondary Education
Minor: History

[ View More PMC Profiles ]

Internship: Bostonian Society and Old State House Museum

When English major and December 2003 graduate Amy Cowan signed up for her internship at the Bostonian Society and Old State House Museum, she didn’t realize she’d be wearing more than one hat! The Bostonian Society, whose mission is to preserve Boston history, was understaffed when Cowan began there, so, more than an intern, she became an essential employee, responsible for a variety of projects.

For development, Cowan solicited donations for two fall events and helped organize and run them. She also coordinated several databases and corresponded with donors and various Boston businesses. For public relations, she wrote press releases about Bostonian Society events and disseminated them to press organizations. “Along the way, I also picked up more tasks,” reports Cowan, “including coordinating the official press kit of the Bostonian Society, which was mailed out to national and local press, as well as prospective attendees of the Democratic National Convention, to promote the Old State House.”

The highlight of the internship for Cowan was coordinating the society’s John Hancock Wine Tasting Silent Auction event, which was “only an idea” when she joined the staff. Cowan took the initiative to research potential donors for the auction, receiving, finally, 40 item donations, far exceeding anyone’s expectations. She then wrote thank you letters to donors, started a donor database, and wrote the Silent Auction program book, a task that “definitely exercised my creative writing skills,” she says. The most exciting part for her was the “crafty” stage: making table tents and getting the items ready to be auctioned off. “In all, the event raised $3,500.” reports Cowan. “It was extremely rewarding to see the final product of something I worked on from start to finish.”

Cowan (left) with Cindy Palmquist '03 at the Old State House

Cowan didn’t realize how valuable her internship really was, though, until she started looking for a job in January. “I received five job interviews (no small feat),” she reports, “and I was offered four jobs! My internship seminar definitely helped me in preparing resumes and cover letters. In particular, the portfolio I developed in my internship was immensely helpful in my interviews, as I had concrete professional work to show.”

Cowan is now enjoying working as an official court monitor for the New London, CT, County Judicial System. “It’s a wonderful job that I’m really pleased about,” she says. She has also applied to several graduate programs in both English and education, in the hope of starting in the fall.”

Thinking back on her college days, Cowan is happy she chose Pine Manor. “I loved the classes and the education I received, and I loved the location—a beautiful, suburban campus just a few steps from Boston.”

“It’s hard to tell when you’re a student how much the work you’re doing in college is preparing you for the future, but it’s easy to tell once you’re out,” continues Cowan. “The work I did at Pine Manor—not just my internship, but also my positions as a Student Admissions Counselor and with the journal Eire Ireland gave me incredible skills and make impressive additions to my resume.”