Kate Healy, a senior Honors English major on the critical track with a minor in Art History, spent this past summer bringing together her passions for literature and visual art. Through her eight weeks as an intern in the Education Department at the National Gallery of Ireland, Kate supported the Gallery’s education team while simultaneously exploring the connections between her academic interests.
In her role, Kate assisted in the planning and execution of educational projects, “including artist talks, open studio programs, baby sensory workshops, [and] quiet workshops aimed to make the museum accessible to [neurodivergent visitors].” Furthermore, Kate curated social media content targeted at youth outreach and contributed to research projects focusing on the Gallery’s architectural history, teaching strategies, and accessible museum education practices.
Reflecting upon her internship, Kate found immense value in the English major’s ability to inspire literacy across academic fields. Kate noted that, “while textual literacy and visual literacy differ greatly, the ability to develop an argument structured on evidence is the crux of my work in English and the process of interpreting art in the Gallery.” The analytical, editorial, and communication skills developed through her English courses at Notre Dame translated directly to Kate’s success working in Dublin.
For Kate, the Notre Dame network is an invaluable asset for future interns, and she recommends that others take advantage of it in their search, emphasizing that “there are various programs that have established relationships with institutions and a strong relationship with alumni.”
Kate urges future interns to “cast your net in various waters.” She stresses how the skills one develops as an English major “will prove beneficial no matter what you end up doing professionally.”
Originally published by at english.nd.edu on October 10, 2025.