By Kailey Murphey, former marketing and communications intern

Kailey Murphey, outside the Eiteljorg Museum

From the first day I started my internship at the Eiteljorg Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – which is coincidentally the museum’s busiest day of the year – I felt a shift in the atmosphere. I knew that this internship would be unlike anything else I have done.

Before I worked at the Eiteljorg, every professional work experience I had was in the corporate world. While my past internships shared their own impactful experiences, there’s no comparison to the impact that nonprofits such as the Eiteljorg have on the communities they serve. When I arrived or left for the day, I could walk through the museum as people were admiring all of the galleries and exhibitions. Every day, I got to see the direct correlation between this museum and the community.

Every piece of art has an impact in some way on different communities in Indianapolis and around the country. The museum and its people are dedicated to exemplifying the diverse perspectives of Native American and Western art by curating exhibitions and conducting public programs that tell unique stories. I have been inspired by the Eiteljorg staff due to the sheer passion of everyone at the museum.

It has always been my goal as a Butler University student studying Strategic Communication to pursue experiences that connect me with new and diverse audiences. Growing up in South Bend, Indiana, I was keenly aware of the impact that Native American communities had on our city. The name of the Potawatomi tribe is familiar to those in the Great Lakes region. I have a great respect for the resiliency of Native communities. So when I was offered the opportunity to work as the museum’s spring 2024 Eiteljorg marketing intern, I was elated.

I am eternally grateful that I had the privilege to watch the installation of three different traveling exhibitions: Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces, Acts of Faith: Religion in the American West, and Developing Stories: Native Photographers in the Field. I also got to experience the final day of the Fifth Third Bank Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure on the first day of my internship.

This internship expanded my experience with e-marketing and internal communications in addition to building my confidence in social media content planning and analyzing marketing efforts. I learned how to write promotional copy for unique audiences, such as veterans or history professors, for all three major exhibitions this spring – Why We Serve, Acts of Faith and Developing Stories. As I neared the end of my time, I was tasked with drafting the Storyteller magazine Calendar of Events which encompasses all of the upcoming, must-attend events of summer 2024 at the Eiteljorg. It was bittersweet seeing all of the exciting programming ahead while knowing my path will take me elsewhere by the time those events take place.

The marketing and communications internship at the Eiteljorg was the perfect transition from college to post-graduation life. I will always be thankful for what I learned during the past four months. I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire marketing department – director of marketing and communications Bert Beiswanger, public relations manager Bryan Corbin, digital marketing manager Brooke Sullivan – for their continuous support and encouragement.

This experience taught me not only professional goals, but also how to prioritize personal interests in a future career. As I look toward a full-time career in copywriting or communications, I feel confident about the skills I gained over the past four years to reach this point in my professional life.

This experience at the Eiteljorg touched my heart in a way that I will carry with me forever.

Kailey Murphey completed a marketing internship at the Eiteljorg Museum during spring semester 2024 and is graduating in May 2024 from Butler University in Indianapolis.