2026 HBCUI Intern
BIOGRAPHY
Jaia Smith, a first-year graduate student at Texas Southern University pursuing a Master of Arts in English, serves as a Battle of Lake Erie Intern at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial through the HBCUI Internship Program. Her academic and research interests include American and African American literature, Black Southern culture, archival studies, and the ways history and storytelling can be used to deepen public understanding of the past.
Prior to her internship, Jaia distinguished herself as a writer, researcher, and educator. She is a two-time recipient of the Martin Beller Award for Writing Excellence and has chaired and moderated a panel focused on African Diaspora storytelling. As a Teaching Assistant in the Texas Southern University Tiger Writing Lab, she supports undergraduate and graduate students in developing their writing, strengthening their communication skills, and expressing complex ideas with clarity and purpose.
During her internship at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, Jaia works alongside National Park Service staff to research and interpret African American involvement in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812. Her work includes conducting archival and secondary research, documenting historical sources, developing educational and interpretive content, and helping create a public-facing program that brings greater awareness to the experiences and contributions of African Americans connected to this period of American history. She also gains hands-on experience in visitor engagement, interpretive programming, and daily park operations.
Through her HBCUI experience, Jaia is expanding her skills in archival research, historical interpretation, public speaking, educational content development, and audience-centered storytelling. By combining her background in literature, writing, archival studies, and African Diaspora storytelling with hands-on experience in public history, she is developing new ways to transform historical research into meaningful and engaging experiences for the public.
Education & Experience
Education
Texas Southern University
POSITION
Battle of Lake Erie Intern
Internship Overview
As a Battle of Lake Erie Intern, Jaia supports historical research, interpretive programming, and visitor engagement at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, helping connect audiences with African American involvement in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812. Her work includes conducting archival and secondary research, documenting historical sources, developing educational and interpretive content, and helping create public-facing programs that bring greater awareness to the people, experiences, and contributions connected to this important period of American history.
Working alongside National Park Service staff, historians, and park rangers, Jaia is gaining hands-on experience in archival research, historical interpretation, public speaking, educational content development, and audience-centered storytelling. Through her work, she is applying her background in English, literature, writing, and African Diaspora storytelling to real-world public history while developing the research, communication, and interpretive skills needed to transform historical information into meaningful and engaging experiences for the public.
Skills Developed & Accomplishments
Skills Developed
- Archival Research
- Historical Interpretation
- Historical Documentation
- Public Speaking
- Educational Content Development
- Audience-Centered Storytelling
- Visitor Engagement
- Interpretive Program Development
Accomplishments
- Conducted archival and secondary research to document African American involvement in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812.
- Researched historical sources and helped identify stories that expand public understanding of the people and experiences connected to this important period of American history.
- Contributed to the development of a public-facing interpretive program designed to share historical research with park visitors in an engaging and accessible way.
- Supported visitor engagement, interpretive programming, and daily park operations while gaining hands-on experience in the work of the National Park Service.
- Applied her background in English, writing, archival studies, and African Diaspora storytelling to transform historical research into meaningful educational and interpretive content for the public.
Testimonial
Coming soon.
