Elana West-Smith ’24, Elizabeth Bailey ’25 selected for National Gallery, London internships

Elana West-Smith ’24 and Elizabeth Bailey ’25 will intern at the National Gallery, London, this summer.

Randolph College has named Elana West-Smith ’24 and Elizabeth Bailey ’25 as recipients of its prestigious summer internships at the National Gallery, London.

West-Smith and Bailey will live in London and work in the Gallery’s development department and Research Centre this summer, supported by Randolph’s one-of-a-kind partnership with the National Gallery, London.

West-Smith is a media and culture major, with minors in psychology and Spanish, and will be working in the Gallery’s development department, fundraising and organizing events. She is the president of Randolph’s chapter of CRU Christian Fellowship and is also involved in the Creative Writing Club and Community Fellows.

Her previous experience includes working at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center in Charlottesville.

“I am very interested in learning about cultures and art, and working there exposed me to beautiful knowledge, artists, information, discussions, and more,” West-Smith said. “I know this internship will prepare me for my future in ways I can’t even see right now. I hope it will broaden my perspective within my future career, and I hope it shows me a life bigger than myself.”

Bailey is an art history major and will work in the Gallery’s Research Centre, assisting with two projects: barcoding and cataloging their library collection and transcribing a collection of letters by an artist. She is co-president of FRAME, Randolph’s student docent club, a tutor in the writing lab, and a member of the Judiciary Committee and Ethics Bowl Club.

She has been working at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, completing office tasks and assisting with exhibitions and other events, since the beginning of the year.

“After working here, I realized I really enjoy collections management work,” Bailey said. “This internship is an opportunity to expand on that area of interest at a larger institution while being able to apply skills I already have. I hope it will help me discover if the research side of the industry is the right fit for me. And, of course, it’s London, at one of the most respected institutions in the world.”

The internship program is made possible through an academic partnership between the College and the National Gallery, London. Created in 2014, this partnership is the first of its kind for any U.S. educational institution.