Hello! My name is Cailynn Fox, and I have been granted an amazing opportunity this summer as a Columbus Foundation Summer Fellow with the Ohio Humanities Council. I graduated last month from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (with a focus in Cultural Studies and a minor in Spanish). I believe the process of earning my degree has prepared me well to effectively enter the non-profit sector with the countless transferable competencies and skills that anthropology teaches as well as to have a good introduction into the world of the humanities, with just some of the common features being history, cultural studies, linguistics, and literature.

I have had a very enjoyable week beginning my first post-college full-time position, and have had the opportunity to meet many professionals who I anticipate having a profound impact these next 10 weeks on my abilities to become a leader in the non-profit sector, including Dr. Mark Lomax II, Rebecca Asmo (the Executive Director of Ohio Humanities), and my coworkers at Ohio Humanities. As is typical when starting a new position, I was anxious about what sort of environment I would be entering, but I am ecstatic that I have encountered a flexible work environment with friendly and helpful coworkers and leadership. Being in the office only 3 days a week and remote the remaining 2 days, I’m excited to have a blended experience that will prepare me in the future for both types of work environments.

In the office, I’ve spent this week learning more about the programs, operations, communications, and impact of the various types of work that Ohio Humanities does, whilst exploring more about what specific elements of non-profit work that would make my learning experience the most lucrative whilst being helpful to my coworkers and having the potential to be impactful for Ohio Humanities.

I’m excited to continue sharing here my reflections about the experiences and new knowledge that I am bound to gain this summer!