For the past month, Alberto Morales, anthropology graduate student, has been working behind the scenes of Smithsonian museums and collections in Washington, D.C. as part of the Latino Museum Studies Program. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Latino Center, the competitive summer research and leadership program allows graduate students to develop their museum practices within a Latino framework under professional curators, researchers, historians, archivists and professors. The program includes a two-week leadership seminar designed to enhance research and creative skills through a series of panel discussions, hands-on workshops, interactive discussions and tours of Smithsonian museums. The second component is a four-week practicum.

Morales is one of fifteen students selected from a nationwide pool to participate in the program.