Steven G. Fullwood, Associate Curator in our Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, and Manager of the Schomburg Center's BNY Mellon Pre-Professional Development Program, highlights this semester's group of inspiring pre-professionals who are working to curate, document, promote, and maintain our brand and narrative:

Each spring and fall semesters, eight to ten college undergraduate and graduate students are selected to participate in the BNY Mellon Pre-Professional Development Program here at the Schomburg Center. Founded in 2013, the program seeks to facilitate transitions to full-time positions at a broad range of institutions and businesses that seek smart, culturally competent, and well-balanced professionals whose experiences are suited for the fast-paced challenges of the information age. The program is made possible through the generous support of BNY Mellon. Below, our current group of pre-professionals share their experiences:

FLORENCE NGALA

School: City College of New York

Major: Advertising/PR & Digital Design

Department: Special Events

What I Do: I'm learning about what it means to create an event, its development, execution, and to ensure that everything goes smoothly behind the scenes. Planning involves touching base with everyone associated with the event, from the organizers to security, caterers, volunteers, performers, etc.

JHANAYA BELLE

School: Baruch College

Major: Journalism

Department: Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books

What I Do: I work with Steven G. Fullwood, associate curator of the division, to help process the African Methodist Episcopal Home and Foreign Church Records (AME), a collection of a predominantly African-American Methodist denomination founded and based in the United States. As I research the AME Church’s records, I compile content notes about it.

AMANDA J. PERRY

School: Barnard College

Major: Africana Studies and Art History 

Department: Education 

What I Do:  I assist Abigail Jefferson and Kadiatou Tubman, the Education Coordinator and Education Program Coordinator, respectively, with coordinating the Teen Curators and Junior Scholars programs. I also promote and contribute to a space of collective learning while serving as a resource to both the student participants and instructors who lead these educational programs.

CIARA BEAU-HALL

School: LaGuardia Community College 

Major: Business Admission

Department: Administration 

What I Do: I work with Theresa Martin, executive assistant to the Schomburg’s forthcoming director, Kevin Young, to assist in preparing for his arrival in December. I also help maintain the office’s files.

SULIAMAN ONAFUWA

School: Baruch College

Major: Finance

Department: Membership

What I Do: I assist in reaching potential donors who can make significant contributions to the Schomburg Center. I also provide support for Special Events during their First Fridays events by confirming RSVPs, helping set up, and ushering attendees into the program.

AMANDA BELANTARA

School: Pratt Institute, School of Information

Major: Library and Information Science

Department: Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division 

What I Do:  I'm learning the essential skill of cataloging while helping with various administrative and reference tasks.

TIFFANY CARCAMO

School: Pratt Institute

Major: Library and Information Science

Department: Exhibitions

What I Do: I am an assistant to the Exhibitions Manager, Isissa Komada-John, providing research to help develop forthcoming exhibitions. This position gives me a wonderful opportunity to hone my skills in developing, executing and managing exhibitions.

SHAKEYA HUGHES

School: College of New Rochelle

Major: Communications/English Literature

Department: Communications

What I Do: I work with manager Candice Frederick to help promote the library’s programs and educational resources. My tasks include writing articles about the Center’s collections and programs, both online and in print. I am responsible for fact-checking #TodayInBlackHistory posts on social media. My goal is to connect patrons with storytelling that will inspire them to visit the library.

DONALEY GONEZ

School: Stella & Charles Guttman Community College

Major: Urban Studies 

Department: Public Programs                         

What I Do: I work with Novella Ford, Manager of Programs, and together we help develop and execute programs centered around black culture, while also making sure our Schomburg fellows are presented with fundamental resources associated with the particular conversations I help curate. I'm also afforded opportunities to further my African Diaspora studies by working with scholars, thinkers, writers and other creatives who play an integral part in the interpretation of African-American history.

To learn more about the BNY Mellon Pre-Professional Development Program, and to apply for an upcoming semester, click here.