Smithsonian Project Puts Alumna Behind Camera
Cedarville University alumna Elizabeth Kollmar is interning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, producing educational videos that bring history to life. Her experience blends nonprofit media work with hands-on production and national-level media exposure in D.C.
Cedarville Alumna Brings History to Life at Smithsonian
Inside one of the world’s most iconic museums,Cedarville Universityalumnaand video production internElizabeth Kollmar ishard at workturninghistory into powerful storiesat the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Themuseum inWashingtonD.C.is home to the world’s largest collection of historicaircraftand spacecraft.TheSmithsonianhas inspired Kollmar, a 2025 graduate with a degree inbroadcasting, digitalmediaand journalism, to bring history to life through educational and documentary-style productions that highlight technology,innovationand human achievement.
Blending Passion for MuseumsWithMedia Storytelling
Kollmarhas always loved museums, so producing videos in this setting was a natural way to blendher interests in nonprofit work and media education.
“I wanted to do documentary-style productionsfornonprofit marketing or educational-style media,” Kollmar said.“Andworking forthe museumallows me to workin a nonprofit setting and produceeducational media.”
Hands-On Learning Fuels Professional Growth
In herinternship, Kollmarfilms withintight production schedules,oversees camera and lighting setup, coordinates audio recordingand edits video footage. Having gainedhands-on experience throughclasses and extracurricularprojects during her time at Cedarville, she values the opportunity to work on a production team.
Kollmarcreditsthe countless projects, both inside and outside the classroom,during her time atCedarville withpreparingherwell forboththecreativeand technicalaspects of production work.
“Most video production learning happensoutside the classroom,” said Kollmar. “Itis just creatingtime and time againandthenfailing and learning from those failures. But the skills I learned from myclassesgave measolidfoundational knowledge.Production is in the details, andI can deliver a better final product because of that foundationI have.”
Behind the Scenes at the Pentagon
WhileinWashington,D.C.,Kollmar connected withLt. Col.Devin Robinson,chief of the executive engagement branch for the National Guard Bureauanda2003Cedarvillegraduate.Robinsonand histeam provide strategic communications, multimediaproductionand media coordination for the U.S. Department ofDefense.
“I amnot necessarily pursuingjournalism,” said Kollmar. “But it is all part of the media process.Seeing behind the curtainat the Department of Defense gave me new insight into how media production happens in D.C. and how newsgets toalocal news station, on national newsor on yourGoogle feed.”
Turning InternshipsIntoa Media Career
The experience gave her a broader perspective on thecreationof media in different settings.
Kollmar’s Smithsonian internship and Pentagon visitequipped her to see her goals become a reality, and she is now doingnon-profit videography work full-time in the DC area.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offersundergraduateandgraduateresidential and online programs across arts,sciencesand professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more atcedarville.edu.