Barrington Alumna Selected For Library Of Congress Internship

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington High alumna and Wheaton College track standout Briana Gausland has been chosen to spend her summer at one of the nation's oldest federal cultural institutions.

The Wheaton senior was selected for the Library of Congress Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program — a 10-week internship for undergraduate and graduate students. Each intern works on a project that aims to increase access and awareness of the special collections at the research arm of Congress.

Gausland will work in the manuscript reading room helping people with their reference inquirie for research in person and by email, fax or phone.

A history major, Gausland also had a celebrated track and field career at Wheaton as a nine-time All-New England honoree, and a four-time New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference champion.

"My team is my support system, and we’ve definitely fostered an environment where we encourage each other to succeed. Also, the success that I have seen as a runner at Wheaton has really encouraged me to chase success in other parts of my life," Gausland told Wheaton College's website.

Gausland placed fifth in the 60-meter dash at the New England Division III Championships in February. She won her preliminary heat before she was fifth in the finals in 7.90 seconds to earn All-Region honors.

Her spring outdoor track season was canceled due to the coronavirus health emergency.

Gausland said she plans to attend graduate school to earn a master's degree in history, and library information science. She said she wants to be an archivist within an academic setting.

"I'm excited to work at the largest library in the world with some of the top people in the field and with a variety of academics on their research," she told the school's website. "Overall, I'm just so thankful that Wheaton has let me have all of these wonderful experiences and has prepared me for
these great opportunities."