Summer Internships

Shawnia Yon ’24

Summer Intern, Christie’s, New York, New York

Majors/ Minor: Dance and Business (self-designed) double major; Finance minor

Center or Pathway: Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Value and Change

Hometown: Queens, New York Shawnia interned at Christie’s international auction house in the trust, estates, and appraisals department. There, she helped organize and manage appraisal projects for a variety of purposes, including estate planning and charitable donations. She also completed a final project which included pitching a marketing and sales plan for an individual work of art to a top client. “Christie’s provided me with an amazing opportunity to experience what it’s like to work in a corporate setting. Through this internship, I deepened my understanding of a plethora of skills, such as negotiation, problem-solving and relationship building. The transferable skills—in particular, relationship management—align with my career goals and will make me a resourceful team member who can excel in any company I chose to work with and/or start.”

Abigail Balkin ’22

Development Intern, The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness, Portland, Maine

Majors/ Minor: Sociology and Human Development double major; Architectural Studies minor

Center or Pathway: Media, Rhetoric and Communication

Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland/ York Harbor, Maine This summer, Abigail worked closely with the Cromwell Center’s executive director. In her role, she conceived a major overhaul of the organization's educational programs and curriculum that will incorporate more expansive virtual offerings and community outreach strategies to engage more members of the greater Portland, Maine area in disabilities awareness education. “This internship gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion for disability advocacy while gaining practical experience in the media and communications field. Working under an amazing mentor, I gained invaluable connections within a regional network of nonprofits, which will undoubtedly help me advance my career in human services in the future. This experience was truly meaningful, as I was able to shape my local community by working to rewrite the narrative about disability that is taught in Maine schools.”

Ricardo Lombera ’22

Organizing Skills Intern, UC Berkeley Labor Center, Berkeley, California

Majors/ Minor: Government and Sociology double major; American Studies minor

Center or Pathway: Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy

Hometown: East Palo Alto, California Ricardo interned with the UC Berkeley Labor Center, a public service and outreach program of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. After completing a Labor Center workshop on how to organize with labor unions and tenant associations, how to plan a campaign, and how to build union membership, Ricardo was placed with the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, which helps inform San Francisco residents about their rights as tenants and advocate for people who face habitability issues, such as evictions and rising rent prices. “This internship has helped me further understand how immigration and labor laws overlap, which will be helpful as I move forward toward my goal of a career as an immigration attorney focusing on employment-based immigration.”

Milo Becker ’22

Project Intern, The Stone House Group, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Majors: Architectural Studies and Sociology

Pathway or Center: Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment

Hometown: Westport, Connecticut The Stone House Group is a sustainable building and energy consultant firm based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Milo helped the firm conduct an energy audit for the Connecticut College campus, which will be used to help Conn develop a new energy and utility master plan, in addition to a climate action plan. “Throughout my time at Connecticut College, I have developed a passion for the relationship between sustainability and the built environment. This internship engaged my interest on a professional level, and provided me with the tools and knowledge to understand building sustainability on a whole new level.”

Olha Vasyliv ’23

Bessell Fellow, Caucus on Sustainability, Ukranian Parliament, Kyiv, Ukraine

Major/ Minors: Sociology major; Environmental Studies and French double minor

Center or Pathway: Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts

Hometown: Kyiv, Ukraine Olha interned with the Ukrainian Parliament, known as Verkhovna Rada, in the office of deputy Mariia Mezentseva within the Bipartisan Caucus Bezzaive for Sustainable Development. The internship was part of Bessell Fellows Program, which support students as they consider holistically sustainable solutions to global challenges. “My internship helped me discover my passion for environmental conservation through policymaking, an amazing opportunity for a sociology major who plans to build a career in the realm of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. I am now aware of Ukrainian legal doctrine and its limitations, so it is easier for me to predict the potential social response that environmental legislation might trigger. The experience in the parliament exposed me to the ups and downs of climate change management, which gives a better idea about what I want to urgently focus on while building a career after graduation.”

Imogen Gillard ’22

Education and Research Intern, Alaska Sea Life Center, Seward, Alaska

Major/ Minor: Environmental Studies major; Dance minor

Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin Imogen interned in the education and research departments of the Alaska Sea Life Center. In the mornings, she would help collect data for the longest ongoing research project at the center, which focuses on monitoring the local Steller Sea lion populations through the use of a remote video monitoring system. Her daily tasks included full island population counts and animal identification. In the afternoons, she would be out on the floor of the center interacting with visitors and teaching them about the various animals and programs. “This internship has given me so many opportunities and has allowed me to gain experience both as a scientist and researcher in the field and as an educator. Working in both areas of the center has given me a unique advantage in that I’m able to fully explain the research that’s being done to visitors and help them understand why institutions such as the Sea Life Center are crucial for understanding our oceans and impact.”

Sam Crockford ’22

Zero Waste Initiative Intern, Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts

Major/ Minor: Government major; Architectural Studies minor

Center or Pathway: Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy

Hometown: Middleboro, Massachusetts The Conservation Law Foundation is an environmental advocacy organization focused on creating comprehensive long-term solutions to New England’s most critical environmental challenges. Sam served at the organization as a Zero Waste Initiative Intern through the Forest Foundation’s funded internship program. “Law and policy have always intrigued me. At Conn, I’ve had the opportunity to get ample classroom exposure to both, and this summer I was lucky enough to extend that classroom experience into the real world at the Conservation Law Foundation.”

Cameryn Lesko-Jelley ’22

Research Intern, Give Way to Freedom, Dutchess County, New York

Major/ Minors History major; Government and Philosophy double minor

Center or Pathway: Power, Knowledge and Practice

Hometown: New Paltz, New York As an intern for the organization Give Way To Freedom, Cameryn conducted a research project where she investigated anti-human trafficking efforts taken by the federal government, government agencies, the New York state government and the Dutchess County government. She analyzed government funds allocated to anti-human trafficking work and government messaging related to human trafficking, in addition to attending anti-human trafficking seminars and trainings. As an intern with Demining Research Community, Cameryn aided a team of scientists in taking a more active role in the activism realm of the landmine crisis through social media, raising awareness of the problem and fundraising for victims. “My internships complemented my passion for examining power structures, my interest in women and marginalized peoples’ rights, and my desire to investigate the intersections between gender, race, law, human rights and government. The opportunity to intern with these organizations was incredibly valuable, as it has cemented my goals of pursuing a career in law and advocacy.”

Adham Khalifa ’23

Yale Research and Computing Center Intern, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Major: Computer Science

Center or Pathway: Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology

Hometown: Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt Adham worked on a new web application for Yale researchers that will ease their computation requests and make the process more secure and user friendly. “Having the opportunity to work with Yale Research and Computing Center allowed me to learn many skills and technologies in the field of software engineering. By the end of the summer, I will have completed the new web application that should help Yale researchers. This internship is an awesome experience for college students.”

Moriah Prescia ’22

Research Intern, Climate Refugees, New York, New York

Major/ Minors: Anthropology major; Environmental Studies and Film Studies double minor

Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado Moriah worked as a writer for Climate Refugees, a non-profit organization utilizing advocacy, research and reports to shed light on the complexities of climate-induced displacement, its human rights implications, and the climate injustice at its roots. Her work involved media analysis and reporting, as well as independent research, case studies, and remote interviews with regional partners working in climate vulnerable regions. “The effects of climate change on humans is not a thing of the future; it is impacting us right now. Through my internship with Climate Refugees, I was to immerse myself in these issues, strengthen my writing and synthesis abilities, and make professional connections with people who are already working to establish justice at the intersection of human rights and the environment.”

Alyss Humphrey ’22

Summer Science Researcher, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut

Major: Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology

Center or Pathway: Holleran Center for Public Policy and Community Action

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Alyss spent the summer as a student researcher in Associate Professor of Chemistry Tanya Schnieder's lab on the Connecticut College campus as part of Conn’s Summer Science Research Institute. She used techniques from chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry to test molecules for their ability to disrupt bacterial communication. “Working in Professor Schnieder’s lab allowed me to explore, grow and learn, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. As a future healthcare professional, the knowledge I have gained has laid a foundation that I will continue to build upon for the rest of my life.”

Megan Tracy ’22

Project Intern, Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, East Hartford, Connecticut

Majors/ Minor: English and Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies double major; Government minor

Center or Pathway: Holleran Center for Public Policy and Community Action

Hometown: Washington, Connecticut Megan worked with the program team at Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, assisting with resource development and program management tasks, participating in prevention and community education efforts, and building other relevant advocacy skills. She also conducted research on alternative forms of justice, including restorative and transformative justice practices for sexual violence cases. In addition, Tracy completed 100 hours of volunteer work for the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern CT (SACCEC) crisis hotline. Working with these two organizations allowed her to understand sexual violence on a macro and micro level. She hopes to continue her work with SACCEC as a volunteer crisis counselor this coming year. “Through my internship, I have been able to gain a wealth of knowledge about advocacy, community organizing, non-profit programming and function, policy, Title IX, and survivor support. My work with SACCEC has allowed me to learn direct care, crisis intervention and survivor support skills in our local community. I am looking forward to continuing my advocacy work and applying these skills to my position at Connecticut College as the SVPA/Office of Equity and Compliance Programs Title IX, Policy and Legal Ambassador this academic year and through continued volunteer work with SACCEC. I also plan to incorporate parts of the research I conducted at the Alliance into my honor’s thesis on disparities in accessing justice for sexual violence survivors.”

Katherine Davis ’22

Democracy Intern, Small Planet Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Majors: Philosophy and Architectural Studies

Center or Pathway: Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment

Hometown: Spokane, Washington Katherine spent the summer working with Small Planet Institute (SPI), a non-profit organization created by Frances Moore Lappé. SPI strives to spread an empowering understanding of democracy, giving citizens the skills they need to build solutions for the economy, electoral politics, the environment and more. “I am so grateful that Connecticut College was able to support my summer internship. Dedicating my summer to environmental justice, food justice and the promotion of democratic values will help shape my future.”

Sneh Shah ’22

Research Assistant, Rutgers RBHS Neurological Surgery, Piscataway, New Jersey

Major/ Minor: Neuroscience major; Computer Science minor

Center or Pathway: Data, Information and Society

Hometown: Morris Plains, New Jersey Sneh interned in Dr. Detlev Boison’s lab in the Rutgers University Department of Neurogery, which focuses on the study of adenosine, a molecule that has implications in epilepsy, traumatic brain injury and cancer. Sneh learned various lab methods and analysis techniques to help understand the role of a particular enzyme, adenosine kinase, in the hippocampus after TBI, and its ability to regulate adenosine, a neuroprotectant. “Working in a lab that focuses on brain injury was really exciting, because any new information we discover better helps our understanding of a disease state that currently has no true regenerative therapy. After I graduate from Conn, I plan to work in the Boison Lab on an independent project before I apply to medical school.”

Claire Williams ’23

Environmental Science Intern, Clean Ocean Access, Middletown, Rhode Island

Major: Environmental Studies

Center or Pathway: Social Justice and Sustainability

Hometown: Portsmouth, Rhode Island Clean Ocean Access is a non-profit organization that focuses on eliminating marine debris, improving coastal water quality and protecting shoreline access. Claire performed field work on marina trash skimmers, including debris removal and micro-plastic research. She also worked with skimmer partners and local officials, and assisted with advocacy efforts to eliminate marine debris in the community. “I am grateful to have had this opportunity to learn about how to protect and preserve the ocean and surrounding ecosystems. I have gained insight on how to create sustainable solutions in this community. Working with Clean Ocean Access was a great hands-on environmental science experience that will support and direct my career goals of preserving our world’s oceans.”

India Rivera ’22

Health and Wellness Intern, Special Olympics Connecticut, Hamden, Connecticut

Major/ Minor: Biological Sciences (pre-dental track) major; Art minor

Center or Pathway: Public Health

Hometown: Hamden, Connecticut India worked in the health and wellness department of Special Olympics Connecticut, helping to develop health education materials for athletes, working one-on-one with athletes, learning about grant writing, and working to organize health-related data. She also created an informational pamphlet for donors, stakeholders, corporate sponsors, universities, and the general public to raise awareness about the oral health needs of Special Olympics Connecticut athletes. “My experience with Special Olympics Connecticut has helped me to solidify my desire to one day be a dentist who provides care to this specific population, as well as open up a dental practice that explicitly targets and meets the needs of people with intellectual disabilities.”

Brendan Stiltner ’22

Psychological Research Intern, Yale School of Medicine’s Pediatric Depression Clinic, New Haven, Connecticut

Major/ Minor: Psychology major; Philosophy minor

Center or Pathway: Power, Knowledge and Practice

Hometown: Hamden, Connecticut Brendan spent the summer conducting research with a Yale School of Medicine professor in the psychiatry department. He conducted a literature review on the neuroscience of suicide, focusing on how the neurobiology of suicide is similar to and different from the neurobiology of depression and how psychological theories of suicide overlap with the neurobiology of suicide. “My internship engaged my interests in psychology and neuroscience to understand mental disorders and help people struggling with them. I used my knowledge of psychology and neuroscience that I've learned at Conn over the past three years while developing my research and writing skills for my last year at Conn and beyond.”

Lucie Englehardt ’23

Social Media Intern and CSA Coordinator, Fable: From Farm to Table, Ossining, New York

Majors: Anthropology and English

Center or Pathway: Food

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Lucie served as a media intern and community-supported agriculture (CSA) coordinator for a small farm/ farm-to-table organization in New York. She managed a CSA of approximately 60 members, ran all social media accounts, and worked on the farm and at farmer’s market. “The most valuable part of my job was seeing the creativity and innovation behind regenerative farming practices, and learning how a community-oriented food system is run. In my academic and personal career, I am studying global gastronomy culture with a sociological lens, and this experience has given me a great deal of insight into the behind-the-scenes of sustainable movement-building and economies of community within food systems.”

Molly McGovern ’22

Writing and Research Intern, Tori Lawrence + Co, Chesterfield, Massachusetts

Majors/ Minor: Dance and Educational Studies double major; Psychology minor

Hometown: North Haven, Connecticut Molly interned with a multidisciplinary dance company that focuses on creating immersive, site-specific dances; performance installations; and dance films that inspire an imaginative and sustainable way of looking at space. The company is currently in the process of building a new residency space for dancers and artists in western Massachusetts that will encourage more site-specific, environmentally based work in the future. Most of her work focused on helping the company apply for grants and other residency programs, collaborating with the in-person work-exchange students, and researching potential artists to partner with. “The arts have consistently played a significant role in my life, which is something I expect will always remain true. Prior to this internship, I struggled to visualize what that might look like if I was not actively performing. This experience helped me recognize that work in the field of dance exists in so many capacities, and has only solidified my desire to continue pursuing dance post graduation.”

Rachel Kantor ’22

Deputy Ambassador, CDC's “Learn the Signs, Act Early” Campaign, Springfield, Massachusetts

Major/ Minor: Neuroscience major; Human Development minor

Center or Pathway: Public Health

Hometown: Lenox, Massachusetts The goal of the “Learn the Signs, Act Early” program is to improve the early identification of developmental delays and disabilities by facilitating parent-engaging developmental monitoring and promoting developmental screening so children and their families can get the early intervention services and other forms of support they need. After learning about the program from a Conn graduate, Rachel created her own position within the Massachusetts program. She was trained to become a deputy ambassador for the state, representing the program and speaking with pediatricians across Massachusetts to educate them on the tools that the CDC provides and encourage them to utilize the materials in their offices and share them with their patients and families. “This experience has reinforced my passion for childhood development and public health. Through my work educating and spreading awareness on early identification of developmental delays and disorders, I had the chance to not only strengthen my speaking and networking skills but also to gain direct experience with a number of clinical pediatric settings. By collaborating directly with clinical staff, I have learned how to interact with medical professionals, listen to their needs and concerns, and help them determine how best to address their patients’ needs. As a pre-medical student, this experience has helped me gain more confidence and clarity in my career path.”

Leelah Klauber ’22

Copy Desk Intern, The Day, New London, Connecticut

Major/ Minor: Philosophy major; Psychology minor

Hometown: Montclair, New Jersey This summer, Leelah worked in-person as the copy desk intern at The Day newspaper in New London. She helped with copy editing the news and opinion sections, paginating the local region section, and writing region briefs and police and fire reports. “Working with reporters in New London, a diverse city filled with so much history, has been an incredible experience. The goal of The Day is to not only provide the residents of Southeastern Connecticut with news about the region and the world, but also give the citizens of the region a voice. The experience has taught me much about the importance of freedom of speech.”

Sam Siewertsen ’22

Physical Therapy Intern, Jade Integrated Health, Portland, Maine

Majors: Holistic Health (self-designed) and Dance

Center or Pathway: Bodies/Embodiment

Hometown: Westbrook, Maine Sam interned at Jade Integrated Health in Portland, Maine, where she shadowed owner and physical therapist Nancy Charlebois, as well as other practitioners who specialize in various modalities, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture and yoga. She assisted in teaching exercises to patients, each of whom has a specialized treatment plan that can include various modalities. “I am passionate about finding a way to incorporate a holistic perspective into physical therapy treatment. My time at Jade has allowed me to gain an insider’s perspective into how various modalities can be used alongside one another to treat the whole person.”

Summer internships