Name: Tanya Chen
Class Year: 2025
Major: Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, Minor: Museum Studies
Hometown: Guangzhou, China
Internship Organization: Bryn Mawr College
Internship Title: Research Intern
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
My colleague Ariel and I have been studying as members of the Bryn Mawr College Chinese Scholarship Committee, which was formed in 1917 and disbanded in 1983. The people we studied were both members and students. But we've decided to focus on one woman, Margaret Bailey Speer '22. She was better known as Shipley's Head Mistress from 1944 to 1965 and Chairman of the Chinese Scholarship Committee from 1963 to 1983. However, people are unaware that she was previously the head of the Women's College at Yenching University in Beijing, China. MBS lived in Beijing for over 17 years. We are currently working on building a biography and a timeline for her.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I am interested in history in general, so I'm there when there is an opportunity to do paid research.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
One of my professors recommended this position to me, saying it might help my future career, and I think she's right.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part is reading committee member letters and gossiping with my friends.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I grew up next to a university campus in Guangzhou, China. But I just learned that one of Bryn Mawr's alums' husbands built all the old buildings on that campus. The university is Lingnan University.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I learned how to manage my time better, which is critical to my senior year; I need to find a way to write my papers and simultaneously apply for jobs or graduate school.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
This is funny, but it is hard for me to read handwriting on letters and documents.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
adjectives: rewarding, challenging, enlightening
nouns: discovery, analysis, teamwork
What is most rewarding about your internship?
I met new friends like my research partner Ariel. It was a pleasant experience working with her.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
Yes, it is. It is enlightening. I have learned more about my country, my people, and Bryn Mawr College and its contribution to the education system in China.
Career & Civic Engagement Center Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology Museum Studies