Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts is partnering with the Tony Award-winning “MJ the Musical” to create an internship program that will provide students with experiential learning opportunities in real-world training environments.  

Through this new collaboration, College of Fine Arts students will gain access to structured internship placements that integrate academic learning with professional practice. The initiative is designed to strengthen Howard’s educational and training programs by incorporating practical, skills-based experiences aligned with students’ artistic and professional development goals. 

“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to bridging academic excellence with professional readiness,” said Dr. Raquel Monroe, Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. “By expanding access to high-quality internship experiences, we are equipping our students with the tools, exposure, and confidence needed to thrive in their respective fields.” 

The agreement underscores the university’s focus on cultivating industry connections, expanding experiential learning pipelines, and positioning students for success across creative and cultural sectors.  

“We are proud to partner with Howard University on this exciting internship opportunity,” said representatives from “MJ the Musical.” “At MJ, we are honoring Michael Jackson’s legacy by investing in the next generation of talent behind the scenes. Howard’s tradition of excellence makes this a natural collaboration, and we look forward to providing students with meaningful hands-on experience that helps open doors and shape future careers in theater.” 

Theatre Arts student Nyah Bennett was selected to take part in the Howard/“MJ the Musical” internship program, set to begin this summer Jun 1–7.  

Tony Award-nominated alum James L. Walker Jr. (B.A. ’90; J.D. ‘95), a College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors member and a partner of “MJ the Musical,” shared that “watching ‘MJ the Musical’ partner with our students — some of the brightest minds I’ve ever encountered — to give them a firsthand look at Broadway has been truly extraordinary. “I am deeply grateful to Dean Monroe, Assistant Dean Saunders Thompson, and ‘MJ the Musical.’”