Two College of Fine Arts students are among nine selected for the Fronteridades Undergraduate Internship Program from the Confluencenter of Creative Inquiry. This program places students with local nonprofit and grassroots organizations serving communities across Tucson and the borderlands.
The program connects students with community arts and advocacy organizations, offering hands-on professional experience while building a critical understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border region and its cultural complexity. This year’s cohort represents disciplines from across campus, with students working closely with community partners and University of Arizona faculty throughout the spring.
Mila Tomizuka, School of Art
Mila Tomizuka is interning at MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson. A Franke Honors Stamps Scholar and recipient of the Poetry Center’s Hattie Locket Poetry Award, Mila brings a cross-disciplinary perspective that spans art history, literature, cultural analysis, and geography. Her academic work explores place, cultural identity, and representation — approaching art as a vehicle for real political and social change. Study abroad experiences in Germany and France, including a workshop at the Berlin University of the Arts, have deepened her engagement with art’s role in shaping public life. Through her time at MOCA, Mila hopes to broaden her perspective on issues facing the border region, including immigration.
Victoria Cortez, School of Theatre, Film & Television
Victoria Cortez is interning at Galeria Mitotera, a Tucson gallery founded in 2018 by Mel & Melissa Dominguez as a space that celebrates and uplifts Chicanx culture and artists of color. A senior pursuing a BA in Film & Television and Spanish from the College of Humanities, Victoria is a first-generation bilingual Mexican American student passionate about making the arts accessible to everyone — particularly in support of immigrant families and underrepresented communities in Tucson. She brings her skills as a language and cultural broker to her work, with the goal of increasing diversity and representation in art spaces. Through the internship, Victoria hopes to deepen her engagement with border communities and pursue creative work that reflects and uplifts the people she serves.