Summer 2026 Undergraduate Houston History Magazine / Harris Health Opportunity - UH Center for Public History

The Center for Public History (CPH) offers a number of different paid and volunteer opportunities through public-facing projects. These positions are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Click below to read more about this graduate student opportunity and apply.  

Summer 2026 Undergraduate Houston History Magazine / Harris Health Opportunity

Position: Undergradaute Houston History Magazine position

Reports To: Houston History, Editor – Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative

Salary: $15.00/hour

Job Status: Part Time, approximately 15 hours per week, for at least 10 weeks (total of 150 hours), from early May to mid July.

***Depending on the scope of the project, work may continue through the month of August.***

Applicants should indicate whether or not they are available to work through August.

This person assists in producing the Houston History magazine and website, published by the UH Center for Public History, by working with the editor and graduate student intern to coordinate magazine content for the Fall 2026 magazine.  

The Center for Public History is collaborating with Harris Health to document the organization’s history in an issue of Houston History magazine. Formerly known as the Harris County Hospital District, Harris Health has provided critical medical services for the residents of Harris County for sixty years. Their hospitals, Lyndon B. Johnson and Ben Taub, along with over thirty clinics and health centers, provide a safety net for those in need of care.

After numerous failed votes to establish a county hospital district, that changed in 1965 after a telling book shed light on the deplorable conditions at the join city-county Jefferson Davis Hospital. Less than two months later the Harris County Hospital District formed, changing the way health care was delivered and made accessible. We will trace that history.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain public history experience and work closely with a community partner on this project.

You would conduct research in archives, conduct and edit oral histories as needed, edit articles, review images and captions. (Prior students conducted oral histories in the fall of 2025 and capstone students in spring 2026 wrote articles and identified images.)

Responsibilities are spread throughout the summer. Training will be provided for all job duties, so you do not need prior experience with a publication.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.       Prepare magazine article for the fall 2026 magazine to go to the designer.

a.       Proofread and edit eight articles for upcoming issues of Houston History

b.       Assist in completing additional research needed

c.       Learn to locate images for articles and write captions as needed.

d.       Meet weekly with the editor and graduate student

2.       If time permits, learn to create and post website content for magazine articles 

Competencies:

·         To perform the job successfully, an individual should have good communication skills, show initiative and adaptability, be results-oriented, and work well with others.

·         Successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to work independently; communicate clearly across all mediums, be detail oriented and contribute to building a positive collaborative environment.

Qualifications:

·         Education/Experience: Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree and have effective writing skills.

·         Language Ability: Proficient in English, with good spelling and research skills. Spanish proficiency is a plus, but not a requirement.

·         Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions.

·         Computer Skills: The individual should have demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Word. The candidate must know how to perform basic research on the Internet.

Required Work Schedule

Work will be done on a hybrid schedule or virtually on weekdays.

Requirements: Applicants must be current students at the UH Main campus.

For more information, contact Dr. Wes Jackson at wtjacks2@central.uh.edu.

Pay: $15/hour, 15 hours/week, up to 10 weeks.
Start Date: If possible, applicants should expect to start between May 1st and May 13th, 2026

*Applications are due by April 17th, 2026.   

To apply, click here. Application materials include: 

• Online Form

• Letter of interest

• Writing sample

• CV or resume with list of 2-3 faculty references (NOT letters if recommendation. Please only include the NAMES of your professor references AND at least an e-mail address for the professors. If you can include a work phone number, please include that as well).