M.S. Rau Offers Multifaceted Experience to Tulane Intern
For Newcomb-Tulane College students, opportunity waits around every corner. For NTC Psychology and Art History double major, Naya Ben-Meir (SSE ‘26), that corner was tucked away on Royal Street in the French Quarter amongst a veritable jungle of antique dealers and art sellers. In fall 2025, Naya was accepted for an internship at M.S. Rau, a fine arts gallery established in 1912 famous for its world-class collection.
“I knew this was an opportunity I could not pass up,” Naya recalls. She remembers getting the initial email about the internship through Professor Alexis Culotta, an art history instructor at Tulane. Naya says that her professors are constantly sending students information about opportunities such as the internship at M.S. Rau and fondly relays details about Alexis’ hands-on involvement. Alexis has worked with M.S. Rau before and has previously recommended other students for internships. She also took it upon herself to personally coordinate Naya’s involvement with the gallery after she expressed interest.
Emily Otranto, Naya’s supervisor and content manager for M.S. Rau, was impressed by Naya’s work and drive. “Naya jumped into several important research projects from the start,” says Emily. “She assisted with our exhibition research and writing, reviewed past art market data and checked every reference before compiling it into a working document we can now use across our website.” Emily also explains how Naya helped write an article for the gallery’s blog about Gilded Age fashion that has performed extraordinarily well since its publication.
Naya’s ethic and presence were also a positive morale boost. “It is inspiring to see a young person approach our field with such genuine enthusiasm,” Emily says. And, of course, the exchange goes both ways. Naya expresses how much she enjoyed working with the rest of the team and her appreciation for the tasks she undertook. “I thoroughly enjoyed being of use in different areas of marketing and research. Working closely with the team also allowed me to see how different creative components work together and are constantly refined.”
Naya’s enthusiasm is infectious. As she discusses her favorite pieces within the gallery, including a Monet and a Renoir, it becomes obvious just how entrenched in the world of fine art she has become while researching the gallery’s various inhabitants. “Working with such incredible works of art has reignited and fostered my fascination with history through the lens of art,” Naya says. “I can research and work closely with items from time periods I am learning about in school.” Throughout her internship at M.S. Rau, Naya used her access to Tulane’s libraries to research various pieces within the gallery, completing and supplementing an already robust bank of knowledge. Naya found the research enveloping, saying she made a habit of going to Tulane’s libraries at least once a day to do her research.
For a student staring down the near future of graduation and the possible career paths ahead, Naya says that her experience at M.S. Rau has been a great transition between academia and the professional world. “I have never been a part of a professional environment quite this large before, which was definitely something I had to get adjusted to. But it prepared me so well for my professional career. The team also pushed me to balance different tasks and tune my time management to complete work within a tight deadline.”
As Tulane’s professional development resources grow, namely the recent launch of the Mussafer Internship Initiative, employers like M.S. Rau are taking advantage of impactful opportunities for both themselves and the students they hire. “This partnership [with Tulane] has helped us build a strong pipeline of talent. One former intern still works with us as an independent researcher, and another is a full-time member of our team who has already made a major impact.” When asked if she would recommend other employers hire Tulane students, Emily responded with an enthusiastic yes. “Tulane students bring a rigor and a genuine sense of curiosity,” says Emily. “They think carefully, write well and approach challenging research with a seriousness that fits the demands of our field. They come in ready to learn and ready to contribute.”
Naya still has some time before she sets out into the world on her own, but she is much more prepared for her career thanks to the support of Tulane and M.S. Rau. “I have learned that there are a plethora of careers and educational backgrounds that can be useful and uniquely apply to a career in art.” When asked what advice she would give to other students interested in internship opportunities like hers, Naya says to cultivate your connections, keep an open mind and to say yes when the chance presents itself.
