We Work Here: Field Work Term 2025

At Bennington, students spend six weeks every year taking their skills and knowledge out of the classroom and applying them in the world of work. They use this annual work-learning opportunity—known as Field Work Term—to deepen their studies, challenge and test new ideas, and hone their direction for the future.

During the winter 2025 Field Work Term, Bennington students worked at internship sites including Women's Project Theater, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, House of Poets, and many more. 

Students reflected upon their experiences in the world of work:

"This Field Work Term experience has given me a clearer vision for my academic trajectory. Public Action has always been central to my Plan, but now I understand what that looks like outside the classroom. My coursework in Psychology and Sociology has helped me analyze social movements, but this experience showed me the real-world challenges of mobilizing people and sustaining advocacy efforts."

- Miriam Bloom '26, Louisiana Bucket Brigade

"The hands-on nature of this experience allowed me to explore a different dimension of social science. This internship developed my capacity to communicate not only with staff and supervisors, but also with the members. From casual social interactions with members to giving feedback on the facility to the director of the program, I practiced different forms of communication."

- Maddie Taylor '27, Bennington Project Independence

"My time at The Fashionable Stylista was transformative. These six weeks gave me time to know myself, to reflect on the past, and a dream of my ideal future. I realized that I thrive in environments where I can move between different tasks, mentor others, and take on diverse responsibilities. Not only did I gain practical skills in fashion design, but I also developed a clearer sense of what I want from my future career and how I could relate it to my studies at Bennington. Want to know more? See the slideshow I made about this Field Work Term. "

 - Julie Gargiulo '27, The Fashionable Stylista

"My Field Work Term experience at WP Theater has directly influenced my Plan, which focuses on acting with an emphasis on experimental theatre and new works. I came to Bennington with the goal of exploring non-traditional forms of performance, and working within an institution like WP Theater has broadened my understanding of the complex, behind-the-scenes work that contributes to a production long before the actors step on stage."

- Grace Phipps '25, Women's Project Theater

"Overall, this Field Work Term experience has given me invaluable hands-on experience while helping me refine the skills necessary for my future academic and professional endeavors. It has reaffirmed my interest in teaching and research while equipping me with the tools to excel in graduate school and beyond."

- Charlie Draughn '27, Outright Vermont

"Going into Field Work Term, I knew I wanted to do work that had a meaningful and direct impact—something that served a larger purpose for the community and aligned with my passions. This internship was a life-changing experience, solidifying my desire to work in an environment and with people that prioritizes sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community well-being."

- Lou Bilbe '28, Urban Roots

"My Field Work Term allowed me to understand the responsibilities of creative writing and English faculty at a university. A lot of people who study English or writing in college end up teaching those subjects in schools. I plan to pursue a career related to writing, and at the Kelly Writers House, I learned that being surrounded by other writers is what I desire for my future."

- Phoebe Bush '28, Kelly Writers House

"My internship at the Art Students League of New York was an incredibly fulfilling and educational experience that has redirected the course of my life, and thus, my educational Plan at Bennington College. Not only was I exposed to the many aspects of running an art program and a scholarship program, but I was also given the chance to participate in a class and experience life in the city. From afternoon marketing and social media meetings, to writing museum reviews for the Seeds magazine, to giving prospective students tours of the school, I was able to dip my toes into each of the many parts that work together to create a functioning art program."

- Willa Pelschoen '28, Seeds of the League (Art Students League of New York)

"I gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies of directing, and I was glad to be working with a director who I already knew. This experience has given me lots of ideas for directing a piece at Bennington, where I can apply what I’ve learned. Field Work Term gave me more confidence in pursuing this, and I feel more prepared to take on directing challenges in the future."

- Bazil Gibson '28, Eastern Mennonite School

"My internship at Green Writers Press has impacted me deeply, educated me extensively, and transformed my knowledge and interest in publishing."

- Angie Hund '28, Green Writers Press 

"Through this internship, I’ve gained new knowledge about alternative education models and how they are efficiently implemented into the school community. I was given opportunities to enhance my communication and collaboration skills through networking with community partners, presenting my proposal to the school administration, participating in district and state meetings for the school and the Extended Learning Opportunities Network, and through guiding and mentoring high school students in their own career development. Each of these experiences, partnered with my work in the office and out at community organizations, has helped me develop a clear understanding of my post-secondary aspirations and goals."

- Mirche Loomis '26, Winnacunnet High School

"I’ve witnessed firsthand my self-actualization, the ever-widening opportunities of the music industry, and the realization of my Plan. After interning with Roomful of Teeth, I have built a resume that includes performing a social media audit and managing social media posts, the expansion of databases (grants, sync licensing agencies, and music supervisors), writing business correspondence, content creation, completion of tax forms, and building interpersonal business relationships. I'm incredibly passionate about enhancing the livelihood of artists, and this internship was a huge step forward in my understanding of what it will take to do that."

- Sophia Andrews '27, Roomful of Teeth

"Overall, my Field Work Term experience was transformative, providing me with invaluable professional experience, deepening my understanding of the arts industry, and reinforcing my academic and career aspirations. I leave this internship with a stronger sense of purpose and excitement for the future, knowing that I have begun to carve out a meaningful place for myself in the arts."

- Bianca Burz '26, Beth Beauchamp Artist Services

"My time at the House of Poets was more than just an internship—it was a formative experience that solidified my career aspirations and strengthened my storytelling abilities."

- Alisa Sakson '28, House of Poets