Arte Público Press, Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage (Recovery) and US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) welcomed 8 summer interns this year from the University of Houston (UH), University of Houston-Downtown, Rice University and local Houston high schools. These interns worked on and learned a variety of tasks and skills, such as:
- Scanning of archival items
- Microfilm scanning
- Handling and preserving archival texts
- Inventory of primary documents
- Organizing collections
- Creating finding aids
- Curating exhibits
- Database research
- Primary document research
- Asset management
- Data management (with spreadsheets)
- Metadata creation
- Metadata translation
- Familiarity with Library of Congress Subject Headings
- E-book editing and translation
- Digital archives (Omeka)
- Digital tools (mapping, timelines, digital collections)
- Archival theory
- Digital humanities theory
- Academic conference presentations
- Academic conference posters
- Planning an academic conference
- Public writing (Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage blog)
- Project management
- Marketing and social media
- Updating the Arte Público Press website
- Mailing review copies
2026 internships were supported by Arte Público Press, Arts Connect Houston's Careers in the Arts Catalyst Program (CACP), LULAC Council 60 and Rice University’s Leadership Rice Mentorship Experience (LRME).
Meet our 2026 Summer Interns
Asyiah Bray is a 2026 Leadership Rice Mentorship Experience (LRME) intern. She is an undergraduate student at Rice University, pursuing a major in Art History with minors in African and African American Studies (AAAS) and the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality (SWGS). She is interested in modern and contemporary art in the United States and its role in shaping, maintaining and transforming ethnic identity. Her work at Arte Público Press has deepened her understanding of identity development, allowing her to develop a new perspective and skill set that she hopes to carry forward in her future endeavors.
Saraí Cantú is a 2026 US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) summer intern. She is a graduate student at the University of Houston pursuing a Master’s in Spanish literature. Her research focuses on investigating the gothic in Latina/o literature, studying the language of haunting, reclamation and the spaces of rupture to conserve the voices from the past in the present. Her work at the Recovery has contributed to this interest with historical and inspiring figures of Latinos in the United States and the stories the archive retells.
Taylor Carrier is a Careers in the Arts Catalyst Program (CACP) intern at Arte Público Press through Arts Connect Houston (ACH). She is a high school student with interests in robotics and engineering. While still exploring future career paths, she is passionate about technology and creativity. Through her work at Arte Público Press, she has gained valuable experience preserving and promoting Hispanic literary culture while developing the organizational, research and communication skills that will support her future professional goals.
Xóchitl Flores is 2026 US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) intern. As an undergraduate history student at the University of Houston, she plans to pursue a master's degree in library and information science. Xóchitl is interested in archival, Mexican-American and Latin American studies. Her work at Arte Público Press has deepened her understanding of the collaborative, interdisciplinary opportunities digital humanities provide towards expanding research on Latinos in the US. Xóchitl hopes to develop her experience with archival industry standards and digital humanities skills to improve research on Mexican-American communities.
Vania González is a 2026 Leadership Rice Mentorship Experience (LRME) intern. She is a Rice University undergraduate majoring in Psychology, Sociology and Latin American and Latinx Studies, with a minor in Medical Humanities. Her interests include emergent bilingual support, immigrant justice advocacy, maternal mental health and trauma-informed care. In the future, she plans to apply to specialist and PhD programs in school psychology to directly support immigrant and bilingual learners.
Hailey Reyes is 2026 US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) intern, as well as a writer, image maker and student based in Houston, Texas. She earned her Associate of Arts in English from Houston Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in World Cultures and Literature with a minor in English at the University of Houston. Her academic and creative work explores literature, cultural identity and storytelling, with a focus on preserving and amplifying diverse narratives.
David Ruiz is a 2026 US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) intern. He recently graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and will begin pursing a Master’s degree in English education at Texas Tech University this fall. As an avid reader, musician and film enthusiast, his internship at Arte Público Press has been a rewarding experience that has advanced his education and professional interests.
