At the RLB Library’s Special Collections & Archives, student interns are an essential part of our mission. They help preserve and provide access to UBalt’s history while gaining practical experience that supports their academic interests and professional goals. These experiences go beyond routine tasks; they connect students to the university’s history while equipping them with skills that extend into future careers in research, public service, and cultural heritage work.
One of those interns is Mia Morales Aguilar, a third-year history major at the University of Baltimore and a participant in the NextGen Leaders for Public Service program through the Schaefer Center for Public Policy. The program prepares students from all majors for careers in government and nonprofit service through paid internships, co-curricular experiences, and academic support.
As a NextGen intern with Special Collections & Archives, Mia contributed to projects that support public access to Baltimore’s local history. Most notably, she worked on creating and refining AI-assisted shot lists for the WMAR-TV News Collection. Focusing on Baltimore-area news from the 1980s, her work helped improve the accuracy and discoverability of audiovisual materials for researchers and community members. Her contributions are part of ongoing efforts to make large-scale audiovisual collections more accessible through a combination of AI-assisted workflows and human oversight.
As part of our Behind the Stacks series, we are pleased to share Mia’s reflections in her own words, where she discusses her background, her interest in archives, the projects she worked on, and the skills she gained during her internship.
Can you tell us a little about yourself, your major, and your background?
My name is Mia Morales. I am a third-year transfer student at the University of Baltimore, studying history. I was born in El Salvador, but I immigrated to the U.S. with my family when I was 6 years old. I have lived in Maryland for most of my life.
What initially interested you in working with Special Collections & Archives?
I’ve always been curious about how archival work is carried out, and I saw working at UBalt’s Special Collections & Archives as a great opportunity to explore potential career paths after graduation.
What kinds of projects or tasks did you work on during your time in the archives?
In my time at the archives, I was tasked with creating shot lists using AI for the WMAR TV station, the local news station in Baltimore. Shot lists are almost like a table of contents that directs people to certain segments so that you don’t have to look at the entire episode to find the segment you want. Most of the work focused on news from Baltimore and the surrounding areas from the mid to late 80s. I was responsible for creating and revising them to ensure there were no inaccuracies.
What new skills or knowledge did you gain while working with us?
One of the main skills I learned here is how to work with AI, which I think can be useful in any workplace setting. I also learned the importance of maintaining good communication with project leaders.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with Special Collections & Archives?
One thing I would like to share is that it's a great environment. Everybody makes you feel welcome and is always willing to teach you something new.
We’re grateful to Mia for her contributions and look forward to seeing where her interests in history and public service take her next.