Student Grants
The Winston Center awards a limited number of ad hoc grants to undergraduate students for work related to the Center’s mission.
Supplemental awards are available for travel to attend leadership or ethics conferences, perform research work, and complete other relevant endeavors. Service trips sponsored by Campus Ministry and Study Abroad Programs are not eligible.
Seniors are eligible for activities completed by May 1.
Travel grant applications are accepted year-round. Actual travel to events must be approved by Boston College.
Travel Grant Recipient Testimonials
Fondation Scelles (Paris, France)
This summer, I worked for the Fondation Scelles—a French NGO dedicated to the fight against sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Daily, I assisted with research, writing support, and French/English translation. Through this experience, I not only gained important language and cultural literacy skills but experienced firsthand what it's like to work on the front lines of a pressing global issue. I am proud that I dedicated my summer to such a meaningful cause.
Sophie Holtgen '23

Society for Research on Adolescence Conference (New Orleans, LA, USA)
Last spring, I traveled to New Orleans to present my poster at a psychology conference hosted by the Society for Research on Adolescence. Over three days, I heard talks from Ruby Bridges and other human rights activists, dialogued with researchers worldwide, and presented my research. My research topic focused on the religious and spiritual experiences of transgender people. This experience has transformed my faith, has expanded my passion for marginalized communities, and my desire to pursue research that makes a difference.
Shuai (Eddy) Jiang '22, LSOE '25
diiVe (Cape Town, South Africa)
This summer, I joined diiVe in Cape Town, South Africa, for their Consulting Internship Program. I was placed on a project where my team’s task was to size and analyze the markets of six African countries to consult the oral healthcare company, TheraBreath, on which country would be the most feasible and lucrative to expand their products into. My role on the team was as a client manager, meaning that my areas of responsibility included being the primary contact for our client, taking meeting minutes, and other communication tasks.
Alicia Spry '24
2022 Annual Public Health Conference (Wisconsin Dells, WI, USA)
Last spring I attended the 2022 Annual Public Health Conference, “Reground, Rebuild, & Reunite: We are Public Health.” This conference was the culmination of my work as a research assistant for the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health over the past year on a project titled “Increasing Cervical Cancer Awareness Through Community-Based Approaches.” Our poster and abstract were featured in the conference, which brings together public health officials from across the state responsible for shaping local health policies and developing educational resources for the community. Attending this conference allowed me to learn from and network with public health experts currently working to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and develop strategic plans for reducing health disparities within the community.
Molly Wilde '23

Learning Hindi and Experiencing Culture In Kolkata (Kolkata, West Bengal)
The Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics funded my one month stay in Kolkata, West Bengal, where I improved my Hindi, learned from the teaching style of a Kolkata-based independent teacher, and wrote about the 2019 Lok Sahba Federal Election. For a few hours a day, I would study Hindi in a formal setting. Then we would take what I learned to the streets, where I’d speak with vendors at the bazaars throughout Kolkata. This experience in Kolkata, and an extended six weeks in Delhi through a separate grant, helped rapidly increase my language skills. Also during the day, I’d sit in on this independent teacher’s courses and learn from his teaching style. This summer’s Sunday course focused on the nature and purpose of stories. We asked questions such as, “Why do we enjoy stories? Why are we able to relate to the characters so well? Why do we care so much, even if we know the story is constructed? Why do stories affect us?” These discussions lent insight into ways I’d structure my classroom if I become a teacher. Discussions such as these also gave me a window through which to view Bengali culture. Bengalis are intellectuals, and the level of deep thinking I experienced was admirable. This summer, I also experienced an election in the world’s largest democracy -- India’s 2019 Lok Sabha election. As I walked Kolkata’s streets in the days leading up to the election, I heard the crinkling of newspapers as people from all walks of life flipped pages, preparing for the final polls. Political invocations appeared more open, less taboo, something that America could learn from. India’s high voter participation rate, too, is something to commend.
Colin Phelan '20
Volunteering at Learning Enterprises (Republic of Mauritius)
The Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics funded my five week stay teaching English in the Republic of Mauritius with Learning Enterprises, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to "connect volunteer teachers and underserved host communities around the world in order to foster cross-cultural exchange and empower young leaders." The sea-side village that I was assigned to was Flic-en-Flac, a non-industrial part of Mauritius that was teeming with tourists and locals alike. Throughout my time there, I was able to build meaningful relationships with the students that I taught English to for a few hours a day and work diligently to increase their English comprehension during their winter holiday, as most students only spoke Creole and French. Along with a partner teacher, I helped establish a series of workshops for students aged five to twelve that incorporated educational learning through the arts, and held specific projects that incorporated Mauritian culture and themes of conservation, as climate change heavily impacts the coral reefs and shores there. Through this program, I was able to develop my global competency skills and apply my academic background in education, psychology, and English to understand the complex ways in which the various bio-ecological systems impact the educational structure and makeup of the community. In addition, I was able to attend the historic Indian Ocean Island Games, a multi-sport event held every four years that gather the island nations including Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, and Réunion, meet with the U.S. embassy and discuss the work that LE does there, and serve as a panelist for a presentation for Mauritian students hoping to attend American universities. This was truly an experience that pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and become a better global citizen.
Chloe Zhou '21
29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
With the support of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, I had the privilege of attending the 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease. The congress brings together more than 13,000 professionals in clinical microbiology and infectious disease from over 125 countries, among them representatives from Georgia where I spent the summer prior as an intern for the National Center for Disease Control. The NCDC in Georgia is leading one of the world’s first elimination programs for viral hepatitis, and during my summer I was exposed to the strategic thinking and on-the-ground interventions that went into designing and executing the effort. I had also conducted background research that aimed to review the potential vulnerability of the country’s internally displaced population who live in compact settlements where housing unintended for the long-term persists as a primary shelter. Taking my experience with me to the conference, I not only got to hear from global leaders in public health about new research on migrant/refugee health and hepatitis, but also got to share what I learned about new technology in hepatitis surveillance, strategies for elimination, and identifying high-risk groups. The conference was an invaluable and humbling experience in learning to communicate and exchange within a profoundly global public health community. Now as a researcher in Georgia working to dovetail IDPs into the elimination program, the lessons from the ECCMID have helped me sharpen my project and work alongside a team of Georgian peers.
Joshua Elbaz '19
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Conference (Anaheim, CA)
I had the privilege of attending the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Conference in California. This year’s conference theme was “The Future is Now.” Professionals from many disciplines, including medicine, philosophy, law, and theology, presented their research and opinions on emerging issues in bioethics. This included gene editing and the use of artificial intelligence to determine who receives an organ transplant. The conference also explored consciousness and brain injuries, whether religion and medicine are competing or complementary viewpoints, and feminist approaches to Bioethics. Regardless of the topic, it was encouraging to see that professionals with extremely different opinions and backgrounds were able to respectfully consider and discuss conflicting viewpoints. It became apparent that everyone shared the same goal of improving healthcare and society, which is increasingly important in today’s polarized society. I hope to bring this discussion back to BC and encourage other students to explore these complex issues.
Angela McCarthy '21
Observing the Portrayal of Inequality in Society and in Film (Rome, Italy)
This summer I had the fortunate experience of studying abroad in Italy and seeing how homelessness affects the community. Within the city of Rome, people are seen on the side of the street begging for money, or just looking for ways in which someone can show them small acts of kindness. Once, I was able to give a women on the side of the street some of my pizza, a small token she was able to appreciate. Within the community, there is much beauty in the city and many areas for tourists to gather and appreciate the scenery. However, in Rome, there is evidence of a two faced aspect of the society. While there is much beauty, there is brokenness with the amount of people that are in poverty. This aspect can't always be seen as Rome is associated with ancient history. However, it must be remembered that the past and the present collide.
Emily Kraus '21
Effects of Armed Conflict on Civilian Health (Geneva, Switzerland)
With support from the Winston Center, I was able to conduct research in Geneva, Switzerland – a hub of influential diplomacy – into the effects of armed conflict on civilian health outcomes. I spent a month engaging in conversation with members of the international community, international relations scholars, and global health experts with headquarters or offices in Geneva, many of which were global health focused. What I learned from these conversations has given me great insight into how the international community views their role in health care crises as well as the extent to which conflict can affect health outcomes in civilian populations. I was introduced to new areas of the global conflict arena that I previously was not aware of, and I saw how the concepts of human rights and international justice are employed and appreciated in many international organizations. I will spend this upcoming academic year extending my findings and exploring the intricacies and important details that this research exposed through a Senior Thesis.
Zoe Fanning '20
Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference (Chicago, IL)
This year, I attended the Consortium of Universities for Global Health annual conference. This conference was a great opportunity to gain exposure to the most recent developments in global health research and projects. As someone with an interest in both health and the environment, to experience sessions shaped by the theme of climate change and health was important. This conference also showcased graduate programs, fellowships, and internships in global health. As I look for career and academic opportunities, to have gained this exposure to national and international programs will benefit me by allowing me to make informed decisions. I also met with students at the conference, and asked them about their experiences being part of different programs. This feedback provided will serve me well as I make decisions about my career path. I also saw many people of color, women, and women of color participants. This was not something I had thought about before attending, but it did leave an impression on me. As a woman of color living in a predominantly white area, it was important to see minority groups represented at the conference since it means these groups make up a great proportion of global health leaders. Global Health is a field that requires people from different disciplines and backgrounds to work together in order to make this world more equitable. This experience allowed me gain exposure to the myriad different types of careers that exist in global health, ways in which to actualize those careers though career, academic, and interest-based programs, and connected me to like-minded students and professionals. Thank you for this opportunity to grow.
Kiran Khosla '20
Gaining new worldview perspectives in Prague
My experience in Prague and Central Europe this summer has given me an opportunity to mature as an adult, living completely independent of others. I now have a better sense of the challenges that face me beyond graduation and the difficulties of self-maintenance and regulation. Furthermore, it has also allowed me to develop my skills in a fast-paced work environment. I have learned a great deal about both communication and development during my tenure at Greenpeace, Czech Republic. I have had a rapid introduction into the ways in which a larger office runs and the formalities that are included with that. I have also acquired a good sense of how to act in both meetings and work collaboratively and bilaterally even if two parties do not agree–an important skill for a political science student. Finally, I have developed my global fluency and citizenship by having traversed not only Prague but a fair share of central Europe as well. Before going to the Czech Republic, I had been to Italy, Malawi, and the Dominican Republic. These experiences have shaped my views of the world outside of North America but Central Europe challenged a lot of my previous beliefs. Seeing such incredibly different snapshots of the world led me to believe that countries were on some sort of scale from best to worst. The Czech Republic, however, is not nearly as wealthy as Germany or France but still has one of the safest cities on the planet. This, along with many other aspects of Czech government, economy, and society, changed my black and white view of the world dramatically. This experience has been really eye opening and has allowed me an opportunity to widen my view of the world to an extent I did not think was possible.
Steve LeGere ’21

Launching a social enterprise in Bolivia
I went to Bolivia this summer to help the missionary, Pastor Ko, to launch his food truck social enterprise. He has been in Bolivia more than 15 years and has helped underserved Bolivians by providing skills training and basic needs. Pastor Ko wanted to start a social enterprise to create more sustainable and greater social impact so he could help develop a younger generation of leaders to carry on his work. Through the social enterprise, he believed he could not only continue to provide skills training to underserved Bolivians but also actually hire them. After they are hired for the social enterprise, they can see that they can make living wages by working hard. I have been helping Pastor Ko with this project since last fall. I created a pro forma business model to predict financial outcomes as well as an operational road map to plan out day-to-day business and HR strategy to find the right people at the right time. In addition, I wrote a business plan to submit to foundations that give out grants to our kind of organization. Thus, I spent most of the time working on these back-end tasks, and then I went out to the street with Lucio, the manager of the food truck business, to actually make some sales and see how people react to our menus. During the second half of my time in Bolivia, I helped them find the best place to make sales and developed a service standard to maintain a high quality of service. Also, I evaluated the business based on the pro forma, checking which prediction was right and which prediction was wrong. At the end of my time in Bolivia, I did a presentation on leadership to Lucio and his colleagues, urging them to not only work hard to cook better foods and make more profits but also to constantly think about what kind of leaders they want to become and what they need to do in order to fill the gap. The single most lesson I gained through this project in Bolivia was that it is significant to do well in business. The single most important lesson I learned through this project was that although it is imperative to do well in business, the essential thing is making sure I am developing leadership among the people I am working with. If I only do well in business and not in people, I will not be doing everything I can to make the business sustainable and successful in the long term.
Wonsuk You ’19
Empowering women in India
Mahila Mandals are women empowerment meetings that are the core of the nonprofit organization CORD Siruvani. CORD stands for Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development and aims to address all angles of the complex issues of poverty and health. To do this effectively, CORD must be embedded in the community and maintain a trusting relationship with the villagers. CORD does this through Mahila Mandals and community development workers. Motivated women in the villagages are employed as community health workers by CORD to run the Mahila Mandal meetings in other villages. The majority of my time was spent attending Mahila Mandal meetings. Villagers decide what they want to talk about and CORD provides resources to help them achieve their goals. Meetings aim to promote self-governance and eventually create self-sustainable groups. For example, CORD spends a lot of time teaching women how to interact with their local government and write petitions for services they are obligated to receive. The idea is that women of future generations will grow up educated on their rights and health to improve their quality of life. This experience has changed my world view and impacted my goals for the future. In public health classes or social justice groups like GlobeMed, you learn about these disparities and cycles of poverty but it is different to experience them firsthand. The hardest part for me was seeing the women become inspired but knowing their life reality. Yes, these women can improve their lives and utilize countless services provided by CORD, but it would be incredibly difficult for them to move substantially up in society. CORD aims to change this and provide younger generations with increased educational and financial opportunities; but even with the sustainable groups and changes CORD makes, women are still left to respond to crises and huge disparities created by systems in place. I hope to work in a public health-related field in the future and I am certain that whatever I do, I will work with vulnerable and deserving populations.
Grace Harrington ’19
Analyzing Mexican voting corruption at the Paris School of Economics
Thanks to the support of the Winston Center, I spent the summer of 2018 working as a research assistant at the Paris School of Economics in France under the supervision of Professor Liam Wren-Lewis, doing research within the academic discipline of developmental economics. The project that I worked on concerned voting corruption in Mexican states. The presence of corruption was analyzed by compiling rainfall data by municipality as well as the corresponding insurance payouts, and then cross referencing this information with voting records to try to detect corruption. The ultimate goal of this research was to improve democratic conditions in Mexico. Within this wider project, I worked on compiling a database of voting records by state so that a bootstrap regression could be done on the data to try to find patterns within the allocation of votes. My experience at the Paris School of Economics was truly inspiring and has motivated me to continue my studies in economics. I hope to one day get a Ph.D. in this field, and this internship helped to give me tangible skills that will help me achieve this goal. Beyond the career skills I acquired, I also gained a new sense of myself and the world by living in the cultural capital that is Paris with a new degree of independence. Living in a different culture for a summer truly impressed upon me the idea that while all cultures are distinct in their traditions, it is the diversity of these traditions that makes the world such an exciting place.
Kate Peaquin ’20
Exploring language and culture in Lebanon
With the help of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, I was able to study at the American University of Beirut this summer. For two months, I studied in the intensive Summer Arabic Program. This program provides integrated instruction in both the formal, Modern Standard Arabic and in the colloquial, Lebanese Arabic. This rigorous level of instruction enabled me to rapidly increase my Arabic skills and provided me with an invaluable opportunity to study Lebanese Arabic for the first time. The program also had many opportunities to explore Lebanon and learn about Lebanese society. One weekend, the students in the program traveled out to eastern Lebanon and volunteered for a day at a school located in a refugee camp. The numerous experiences I had around Lebanon afforded me a new understanding of the language, culture, and people. It is an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Kyle Costa ’20

Tearing down barriers in female education in the Dominican Republic
I was very fortunate to spend a week at the Teresa Toda Hogar in Azua, Dominican Republic, teaching math at a session of summer school for 33 girls ages and ranging from six to 18 years old. The girls live at the Hogar during the school year and return for two weeks during the summer, often having developed skin and hygiene complications along with signs of malnutrition. The public education system in the Dominican Republic faces challenges similar to those of many underdeveloped countries, including overcrowded classrooms, poor-quality facilities, outdated curriculums, and extremely high dropout rates. Additionally, there is inequality in access to education, especially to children living in rural areas of poverty like the Azua Province. Through this Hogar, these girls receive access to a better school, one-on-one tutoring opportunities, and an overall emphasis on the importance of female education. As Malala said, “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” The nuns who run this home are helping to tear down boundaries and change the worlds of these strong young women, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to help these future leaders take yet another step forward.
Abby Konkoly ’20
Art, leadership and ethics in Cuba
This grant served as a catalyst for cross-cultural and cross-discipline exchange and opened the door for the intellectual pursuit of art, leadership, and ethics in Cuba. The entire visit introduced me to the cultural and political complexities that exist and required sensitivity to the fact that the artists of which my investigation focused on spearheaded a movement that challenged the status quo and were perceived as traitors to their home country. I came to find that artistic and ethical considerations of these artists differed from the point of view of those still living in Cuba. As both a Winston Center Ambassador and McMullen Museum Ambassador, I had the opportunity to represent both institutions in interacting with National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana (MNBA) staff, scholars, and trustees of Estopiñán’s artworks that ultimately enhanced the connection between members of the Boston College community and the Cuban art community.
Faye Hubregsen, MCAS '17
Protecting sea turtles in Costa Rica
Leadership is the ability to translate vision into reality and this project is a vision that I have been working on for the last two years, to develop technologies that safeguard the conservation of an endagered species. I spent spring break working in Costa Rica at The Leatherback Trust, an international non-profit based in Costa Rica whose goal is to protect the Leatherback and other sea turtle species at risk. I trained local researchers on how to use and test the latest aerial/drone equipment. Our goal was to find applications that could expand researchers’ data collection and increase the efficiency of their operations. We established a number of use cases including visual surveys of bays, autonomous mapping of remote beaches, modeling of beach dynamics, crocodile surveying, and rain forest canopy monitoring. Once tested and confirmed as practicable, we set these use cases up for long-term data collection. Looking forward we would like to further explore thermal cameras, aerial balloons, and in particular small drone planes. These planes would allow us to cover many more miles of coastline than current multi-rotor devices. Researchers from The Leatherback Trust recently hosted the annual “Sea Turtle Symposium” in Las Vegas and were able to share the success of many of our drone techniques with researchers from all over the world. We hope to bring this project to the Bahamas next year, where shallower water depths and increased clarities could prove even more beneficial for researchers.
Branick Weix, CSOM '19
Improving healthcare around the world
I was extremely excited to embark on an incredibly informative journey about global health and learn about the current efforts being done to improve health oversees by leading scholars in the field. At the Global Health Innovation Conference held at Yale University, I was able to meet a cohort of philanthropists including physicians, nurses, community health workers, researchers, and social entrepreneurs. Each of these individuals presented their work in a way that deeply touched the audience and inspired people like me to reevaluate my work and consider assisting abroad to expand public health relief to foreign countries in need. This conference heightened my understanding of leadership and philanthropy. As was mentioned several times by prominent speakers, engaging in truly effective global health work requires a commitment to understand the current problems within a country, community, or region before developing any kind of solution. Too often, international aid workers try to instill a solution they believe will solve an issue abroad yet do not get too far in their efforts due to a lack of cultural competence. Therefore, having a sense of cultural humility and cultural competence is integral in getting results in health care sustainably.
Maya Grodzga, MCAS '17
Promoting inclusion for all
I had the privilege to participate in the Other & Belonging Conference hosted by UC Berkley’s Haas Institute For a Fair and Inclusive Society. While each lecture brought its own unique perspective, each focused on balancing in a world where we all belong. Through action, movement, and persistence, society will be a place where everyone has the part of belonging individually and collectively. Today, one problem that we notice is that we are practicing belonging in a period of deep anxiety. Practicing in a world that is so divided. But as Susan B. Anthony simply said, “It was We, the people” and we should work in ways and means that do not devalue, dismiss, or even disrespect those around us. All of us are going through “stuff” whether that be medically, academically, financially, etc., and belonging helps break isolation to touch each other in real ways. As John A. Powell, Conference Chair, concluded, “Belonging means power-building for the future – for everyone to be valued for the work and services that s/he does.” Moving forward I will use my research, understandings, visions and ideas to continue to promote a community of love and inclusion for all.
Joseph Arquillo, MCAS '17
Reducing Obstacles to Girls' Education: A Study of Ruby Cups in Kenya
The goal of the proposed project was to study the effect of Ruby Cups - a high-quality, reusable menstrual cup - on girls’ standardized test scores (KCPE), yearly school attendance, and quality of daily life among girls at the Arrive Kenya program. It was hypothesized that Ruby Cups have a positive effect on the aforementioned outcome variables. As is often the case in research, especially in rural Kenya, the project did not go exactly as planned. To begin with, attendance and testing records were frequently unreliable, with regular gaps in records, and entire years and class levels without any records of any kind. However, despite challenges and setbacks to the execution of this research project, general observations demonstrate that for those who reported using the Ruby Cups, there was overwhelmingly positive feedback. Subjects reported an improved quality of daily life, as well as better school performance and attendance.
Julia Barrett, MCAS '19
Understanding ethics and leadership in the Muslim world
The Travel Grant from the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics provided me the opportunity to refine my research on the War in Afghanistan by studying its connection to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where thousands of Afghan economic migrants, from businessmen to laborers, live and work. The UAE plays an underreported role in Afghanistan, cooperating not only with the Afghan government but also with the Taliban, whose government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the UAE recognized during its brief existence from 1996 to 2001. Now that the Taliban has returned to insurgency, the Emiratis have worked to exercise more understated influence by providing covert financial and political support to the insurgents to maintain plausible deniability. My research helped me gain insights into the connection between Afghan economic migrants, the Taliban, and the UAE, all of which will help me with my thesis as I investigate the Taliban’s foreign policy. This experience allowed me to develop my understanding of ethics and leadership in the Muslim world.
Austin Bodetti, MCAS '18
reThinking Food as a public good and its societal impact
I attended the 2017 reThink Food conference at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, CA that focused on the intersection of technology, food, and design and the future challenges and opportunities for the food industry. Combining technology, innovation, behavioral insight and design, many of the presenters spoke of the driving factors such as an cutting-edge biotechnologies and an unprecedented societal interest in all aspects of our food system that have catalyzed a revolution in the way we think about food. Coming from an academic background in Neuroscience and Managing For Social Impact, this conference helped me to further explore the intersection of my interests. It exemplified the nature of transdisciplinary research and collaboration toward the mitigation of complex social problems through innovation and technology. As a research assistant for Dean Yamada of the Boston College School of Social Work, I have been researching the nature of transdisciplinary research but the nature of the conference allowed the data to be actualized into meaningful insights. Though I will have graduated before the Institute for Integrated Sciences is fully established at Boston College, I think it is a critical development going forward and will set forth a framework for addressing social issues through provision of resources from a myriad of disciplines. In an increasingly interconnected global world, I now recognize more than ever the need for transdisicplinary collaboration for ensuring the full potential for social impact and public good is actualized. I hope to embody this in my future academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Evey Satterfield, MCAS '20
Stipends are available during the summer for uncompensated part-time or full-time internships in nonprofit, service, or public sector organizations. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
Applications for the summer internship grants are due on May 12, 2023.
For questions regarding the grant application process, please contact Monetta Edwards.
Internship Grant Recipient Testimonials
Community Harvest Project
I participated in Community Harvest Project’s (CHP) 2022 Summer Farm Internship program. As an intern, under the direction of the Head Farmer, Dave Johnson, I participated in CHP farm operations and operated farm equipment, including John Deere “Gators,” weed whackers, and industrial lawn mowers. I also worked with volunteers daily, participated in non-profit information sessions conducted by the CHP’s full-time staff, and toured the facilities of the Boston Area Gleaners (a hunger relief gleaning and farming operation). My internship experience at the farm gave me a greater knowledge and understanding of food insecurity and local/national hunger relief efforts. I was fortunate to have also found a strong network of friends and mentors in my fellow farm staff members who challenged me to take accountability when thinking about my own role in ending food insecurity and discussing this crisis. The biggest lesson I learned at CHP is the importance of a strong commitment to human dignity. I aspire to work in international human rights advocacy and genocide prevention, and the farm’s commitment to dignity is especially important to success in this field of work.
Christopher Carreras '25
US Department of State
This past summer, I served as an intern to the US Department of State’s Public Diplomacy (PD) team, working at Embassy Sofia in Bulgaria. This role exposed me to various tasks and developed a deeper understanding of the various facets of work that PD teams work on at the State Department. The tasks ranged from creating and distributing social media content for a foreign audience, conducting policy research, editing briefing papers for the ambassador to Bulgaria, participating in public outreach events with Bulgarian students, and assisting in various administrative tasks. This position, with an in-country team, gave me a view into how an embassy functions and the different priorities that arise from working in-country. I expanded my understanding of the State Department and explored a country and culture that I had only previously understood from an academic perspective. This grant allowed me to develop my classroom skills into skills I now use in relevant contexts. It also allowed me to fully experience the career field I intend to pursue post-graduation from Boston College.
Katarina Hone '23
US Department of Commerce
This summer, I worked as an international trade intern with the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. embassy in Paris, France. I worked with the local French staff to advise American businesses on entering the French marketplace. We helped these businesses by connecting them with French consortiums, educating them on the market, and attending trade shows. One of the largest projects I worked on was creating a market brief and guide on the French Smart Mobility market to provide U.S. companies with a complete overview of the emerging market and market entrance strategies. I worked on company promotion events to increase company visibility in the French market. I was involved in trade show events, such as Eurosatory, where we provided companies with the opportunity to work with the FCS to expand into the French market. In this position, I worked as a liaison between the French and American job markets, gaining insight into domestic and international policy. I had the opportunity to learn from government leaders and officials. Through my internship, I served the U.S. by positively impacting job creation and business relations at home and abroad. I strived to fulfill the mission of The Winston Center for leadership and Ethics by being an ambassador for the United States.
Katherine Hughes '24
International Institute of New England
This summer, I worked as a community resettlement intern with the International Institute of New England (IINE). In my position, I assisted the trafficking victims' assistance program (TVAP). This population is made up of immigrants who have experienced some form of trafficking (sexual, labor) and are currently in the process of obtaining legal status.TVAP currently serves approximately 47 clients, so I conducted needs assessment calls in Spanish, prepared gift cards to be sent out, and organized electronic client files. In addition, I also observed Ukrainian client intakes and interviews for the Central American Minors Refugee and Parole program. My experience solidified my desire to work in the resettlement space. Being a small support in the process of helping migrants was impactful. I saw firsthand the effects of the ethical code that drives migration policy and how nonprofits work to advocate.
Isabelle Jones '23
Massachusetts Trial Court
I worked with the Massachusetts Trial Court in the Lawrence Court Service Center division this summer. As an intern, I assisted my supervisors in aiding court users and addressing their different needs. This included helping people fill out legal documents and gaining familiarity with the steps involved in filing for divorce, small claims, housing issues, and much more. Through this role, I presented court users with the possible options they could take in their case and provided options to receive legal advice. This is an important distinction we always made to inform court users we were not their personal attorneys and could help any side of a party asking for help. This experience allowed me to learn about the different legal channels that are available and legal proceedings in the District, Housing, and Probate & Family courts. system.
Serena Meyers '23
Boston College Innocence Program
This summer, I served as an undergraduate intern at the Boston College Innocence Program (BCIP) through the Boston College law school. I assisted attorneys in their efforts to approach true justice in representing individuals wrongly convicted in Massachusetts for crimes they did not commit. More specifically, I analyzed legal documentation and digested the information present in the cases. My efforts helped the attorneys quickly read through and understand what gaps in evidence and research existed when the case was originally tried. Additionally, I created visual documents that may be used as evidence in court during future trials. The opportunity to serve as an intern for BCIP opened my eyes to the injustices in our criminal justice system. This reinforced the idea of how vital reformation and advocacy are necessary to reinstate the livelihoods of so many people convicted for crimes they did not commit. In the future, I hope to use the skills I developed throughout this experience to enter the law field and continue to challenge the injustices surrounding the criminal justice system in the United States.
Mikayla Sanchez '23
Boston College Innocence Program
This summer, I worked as an undergraduate intern at the Boston College Innocence Program (BCIP) on investigative reports concerning prospective clients. My work at BCIP gave me a comprehensive introduction to criminal defense and post-conviction relief by summarizing trial transcripts, digesting court proceedings, and reading legal filings. Working on two investigative reports for two prospective BCIP clients, I dissected case files while compiling lists of evidence, witnesses, law enforcement officials, attorneys, judges, and various other legal professionals to gain insight into BCIP's prospective clients. Through the internship, I could attend multiple legal hearings for BCIP clients at the Suffolk Superior Court and participated in oral debriefs of the hearings with BCIP attorneys. The court appearances and oral debriefs allowed me to pick the brains of practicing attorneys and gain valuable insights concerning overall legal strategy and situational maneuvering, lessons I will carry with me as I begin my legal career. Spending my summer immersed in investigating two different innocence claims allowed me to better understand the legal system and energized me to pursue a career in law.
Eric Shea '23
Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum
My summer at the Royall House and Slave Quarters was spent revamping the museum’s social media. That meant designing and posting event flyers for events, celebrations, and collaborations with other local museums. Making these posts required me to seek out and sometimes attend local events for Juneteenth and the Fourth of July to shine a light on the other non-profit and community organizations striving to inform others about how the concepts of wealth and bondage have fueled the ongoing Black American fight for freedom and independence. In addition to promoting these events on the Instagram story, I was also responsible for making posts explaining the history of those holidays in context for the Instagram feed. I also gave tours and developed a plan to make the information on the museum’s website both shareable and digestible for potential visitors looking for what to expect when they come.
Jayla Stallings '23
Oregon Desert Land Trust
This summer, I interned for the Oregon Desert Land Trust, a non-profit environmental organization aiming to conserve Oregon’s wild and working lands. I assisted the team with various conservation projects, including developing a climate adaptation plan for the Land Trust’s recently purchased Trout Creek Ranch—one of Oregon's most significant conservation projects. I also met with local ranchers, wildlife biologists, and environmental engineers to strategize a wet meadows management plan. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, I traced homestead patents for hundreds of parcels of land and researched the process of extinguishing dormant mineral rights. Furthermore, I worked with the Outreach Coordinator on website improvements, data entry, and writing the monthly Newsletter. Working with the Oregon Desert Land Trust introduced me to the exhaustive efforts required to cultivate a non-profit organization that keeps sight of its mission. Although the Land Trust is relatively new (founded in 2017), it has made enormous strides, conserving over 20,000 acres of land and protecting threatened wildlife like the Sage Grouse.
Jack Strang '25
Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum
At the Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum, I learned a lot about Boston's role in the slave trade and the lives of both the enslaved and the enslavers. For my internship, I gave tours to museum visitors and taught them about the Royall family and how the enslaved people interacted with the house and the environment. I also took on an archives project documenting all enslaved people in Medford up to 1850. This involved me reviewing the town's vital and military records and cataloging the results. At the end of the project, I found about 40-60 previously undocumented enslaved people.
Maya Thompson '23
Cook County State's Attorney's Office
This summer, I interned as a law clerk at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois. I worked under two assistant state attorneys in the felony trial division, where I was stationed in both the court and office. My daily duties included drafting legal motions, observing in-court proceedings, preparing case files, tendering discovery, and assisting the attorneys with office tasks. Working alongside other clerks and with the guidance of the attorneys in the office, I analyzed evidence to build cases, negotiated with defendants and victims, and assisted in the formation of legal arguments based on case law. I was also granted access to the judges’ chambers, where I routinely listened to discussions between judges (where I was frequently asked for my opinion and active participation), prosecutors, and defense attorneys. I learned a tremendous amount about the Cook County criminal justice system's function, societal needs, and the disparities I was unaware of. I observed attorneys apply prosecutorial discretion to uphold ethical and moral judgments in their cases, upholding the law while valuing rehabilitation, fairness, and equality. This experience has further motivated me to pursue a career in public interest law.
Nick Yustin '24
City of Miami Beach
This summer, I worked for the City of Miami Beach as a Resilience Intern under Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles. Daily, I assisted the CRO on projects related to Flood Awareness as well as other climate-related issues. Together, we strategized and put thought into the best ways to communicate flood risk to the residents of Miami Beach. Some of my tasks included updating fact sheets and messaging surrounding FEMA's NFIP, Flood Maps, and new flood insurance rating methodology (Risk Rating 2.0). Along with this, I also worked hand-in-hand with the City's Communications and Marketing team, collaborating on a spread for the Miami Beach Magazine related to these crucial issues.
Amidst all this, the tragic Surfside Building collapse happened during my time with the City. While the culprit for this horrific tragedy has yet to be fully discerned, I worked directly with the CRO to conduct research and monitor current buildings older than 30 years on the island, ensuring that Miami Beach residents are safe and protected in the face of rising seas. Without the support of the Winston Center, this would have never been possible, and for that, I amtruly grateful.
Diana Bunge '22
Ocean State Waves
This summer, I served several different roles as an intern with the Ocean State Waves: a summer collegiate baseball team competing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). My role was summed as the Director of Hospitality. Still, I was involved in basically every activity the team participated in. I secured funding for the team’s operations in the preseason, gameday operations, sponsorship activation both before, during, and after games, and much more. In keeping with the Winston Center’s mission of supporting internships with non-profit organizations, both the NECBL and the Ocean State Waves have a goal of being active in the many communities they call home. For the Waves that is Rhode Island’s South County, and this Summer, one of my duties is community outreach. So, I was in charge of reaching out to local minor leagues for free admission to the games and participation in on-field games with our sponsors, our partnership with frontline workers to allow them free admission, our annual summer camp for kids in the local area, and reading days with kids in South County’s many elementary schools. Further, while completing my duties with the Waves, I also served as acting President of Spread the Swell this summer—a non-profit organization that I co-founded with my two older brothers ten years ago. Each year, we run a week-long entirely free surf camp for underprivileged children in Rhode Island. My duties encompass everything leading up to, during, and after camp’s end.
Jack Dillon '23
Voiz
This past summer, I became the sustainability analysis and the editorial advocacy track leader at Voiz. They are a non-profit aiming to raise awareness about environmental and social sustainability, including social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, etc., through increasing the Gen-Z voice. My job was to provide proper evaluations and suggestions regarding specific products to help customers make a more informed and sustainable choice. As a sustainability analyst, I researched annual reports from big corporations, analyzed the data, and gave them overall ratings. As a Newsletter lead, I had to create monthly editorials, send out promotional emails and attend weekly meetings with other team members. All reports are posted online so that our customers can read whenever they hope to. Those two months were meaningful because I learned a lot of knowledge that I would not be able to touch in the classroom and because I was allowed to cooperate with many like-minded peers.
At Voiz, all worked as a team, with members from different countries, to fulfill our responsibility as humans and push forward the ultimate goal of promoting sustainability in all fields. I became more aware of societal ethics and morals, which require effort from multiple areas and people to uphold. Even if we left Voiz at the end of the project, everyone will never forget this spirit and carry it forward in their respective communities.
Rachel Huang '22
International Conservation Caucus Foundation
This summer, while interning for the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), I supported the team with research and analysis work, event outreach, and in-person event assistance. I conducted research on NOFOs, the 5 C’s of the Caribbean Climate Change Center, the intersection of irregular migration conflict and conservation, the NDC implementation plans throughout the Caribbean, blue bonds, the sustainability of French companies, and sustainable forestry. I also worked on event outreach, contacting foreign dignitaries and US lawmakers about our July 13th Summit on Illegal Resource Extraction and our upcoming US Congressional Awards Dinner on September 20th. I also had the opportunity to work at several events hosted by the ICCF, including the Summit on Illegal Resource Extraction and lunch for a delegation of Colombian officials. I also worked on some smaller projects that included updating the calendar with Congressional Committee hearings of interest, editing the ICCF Newsletter, attending and taking notes on key webinars, searching for grant opportunities, cross-referencing datasheets, creating donor/contact spreadsheets, and more. I worked on a wide variety of tasks at ICCF, and I learned a lot about conservation and the inner workings of NGOs/non-profits. I had the incredible opportunity to participate in career formation and network with people I will hopefully work with in the future.
Going forward, I hope to return to the ICCF to help out at the September 20th event, use my new research skills at school and in my future career, and stay in touch with the people I met as I begin my job search. I’ve also learned a lot about conservation and working/cooperating with domestic and international governments. I hope to use these skills, in particular, to pursue an internship with the state department next summer.
Sophie Hoeltgen '24
Boston College Innocence Program
I have continuously looked for ways to engage in the realm of research. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, I was formally trained to conduct research effectively from credible databases and document sources. All of the skills mentioned above proved very important in my internship at Boston College Innocence Program. Boston College Innocence Clinic focuses on cases involving complex factual investigation to prove the innocence of wrongfully convicted individuals. As an intern, I was assigned a criminal case to study the problem of erroneous convictions. I worked through several databases and more than a hundred files to find relevant data which might prove helpful in overturning the court's decision. Thus, as part of my case, I combed through the court proceeding and files of young black men who were sentenced to life in prison without even having close contact with the murder weapon.Part of my job was to work my way through all the evidence from the defense and the prosecution side to plan and conduct factual investigations, including witness interviews, working with scientific experts, forensic witnesses, and crime labs. Through conducting research, organizing data, and digging up evidence, I have witnessed the power of my simple acts, which may change the entire life trajectory for an innocent person. Through these experiences, I savored the taste of advocacy through human experience, hard work, and the power of law. As an aspiring human rights lawyer, engaging in intersectional research for my clients with a non-profit organization such as BCIP was a genuine opportunity that could not have possibly been substituted for theoretical learning. I am forever grateful to the Winston center for affording me the financial means to engage in this internship and be a part of such a rewarding work experience this summer.
Urwa Hameed '22
SEC's Division of Corporate Finance
This past summer, I worked in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. Within the division, I was a part of the Office of Risk and Strategy. The two projects I worked on this summer revolved around Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, and the filing of Form S-3. In April, the SEC recently issued updated accounting guidelines regarding how SPACs should account for stock warrants. I noticed that because the changes occurred so close to the deadlines, we suspected many late filings happened due to the April 12th statement regarding warrants. Therefore, I had to track how many late filings occurred with the SEC. My other main project was helping the division automate review functions for form S-3. I was given a population of almost 200 S-3 forms from Q4 2020. I was tasked with putting all the necessary information for a review into an excel spreadsheet. Another intern would then take this spreadsheet to double-check her code and make sure that the code would scrape the correct information.
Tim Lane '23
Boston College Innocence Program
Altogether my work with the Boston College Innocence Program taught me more than I could have possibly imagined. I was introduced to legal proceedings and the processing of innocence cases, how to write memos and investigative reports, and exposed to the legal language I had not yet encountered. Despite being a virtual internship, I was welcomed into a professional work environment. I experienced “hands-on” work and was even able to meet with a possible client.
This summer, I spent a lot of time learning how to approach the intake process for a potential client. This exposed me to important research skills when learning about a case and its history and encouraged me to learn more about different terms and appellate processes that I was unfamiliar with. I was able to write various intake memos that I submitted for review. Beyond this, I worked closely with the other interns on digesting transcripts and working on an investigative report. Collaborating with other interns virtually helped to understand the material and discuss the various ways in which people approach cases. The internship required a level of analytical capacity, communication, and immense accountability, all of which have helped me become a better-rounded intern and individual, personally and professionally.
BCIP awarded me an opportunity to learn more about a field that I am incredibly interested in pursuing while entrusting me with work that law students and even some of the legal professionals are tasked with doing. As I continue with this internship into the school year, I hope to learn more about how I can help those wrongfully incarcerated and provide services to others jailed in an institution with so many systemic issues.
Jennifer Lozano '23
Our Children MN
During my twelve weeks working with Our Children MN, the 501(c)(4) organization working to pass the Page Amendment, a proposed amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution currently in a legislative committee, I aided their coalition-building, communication, and fundraising efforts. The Page Amendment is trying to establish a civil right to quality education in Minnesota to narrow and eventually close our worst-in-the-nation education gaps by race and ethnicity. Before the next legislative session starts in January, Our Children needs to grow its statewide coalition of partners and supporters, both in terms of individuals and organizations. Some of my initiatives in this area included reaching out to every Chamber of Commerce in the state to schedule events and reaching out to other affinity groups. I also drove statewide awareness by writing four opinion editorials across the state, drafting content and posting on our social media accounts each week, and curating our newsletter. My third main area of focus was writing grant proposals to acquire much-needed funding. My first grant proposal led to $50,000 in funding being awarded to Our Children, and other proposals are still being processed. More broadly, I developed a strong understanding of education politics in Minnesota and the hurdles nonprofits face. My confidence in talking to older professionals grew exponentially since I frequently worked with tenured members of prestigious organizations like the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
Anna Lonnquist '23
SSC Venture Partners
When I first applied for a role at SSC Venture Partners, they rejected my application. However, through persistence, I created a new position at the company called Community Leadership Intern. In this role, I spoke with alumni of Boston College to mentor current students who were starting their own companies. This role quickly morphed into me creating a database of 1500+ Boston College alumni who had founded a company. This summer, in a part-time setting, I was able to take on another student to help me. This allowed me to mentor that student while also practicing my leadership skills since I was delegating tasks. Towards the end of the summer, I continued with these initiatives to create a "State of Boston College Entrepreneurship 2021" summary to share with the entire community. My summer at SSC was inspiring, and I'm looking forward to continuing my role in a new setting this semester! I was mentored by Duncan Walker and the team at SSC, and I could not have asked to spend my summer with better people.
Bijoy Shah '22
Silicon Street Academy
I believe strongly in the impact that mentoring can have on a student’s life. Silicon Street Academy aims to provide college students with in-person mentoring, educational podcasts, and networking opportunities in niche areas such as VC, PE, and Growth Equity. These opportunities have not been traditionally available to students at the undergraduate level. Despite the emphasis schools like Boston College put on personal and career development, there is a lack of assistance for students looking to pursue nontraditional business paths. As a part of the team, I hope to make these avenues more known and accessible by providing a platform and place to connect with experienced business people from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the summer, I will be working to shape Silicon Street’s mission towards an emphasis on collaborative growth, which aligns with the Winston Center’s goal of creating ethical leaders in their own right. By traveling to various schools and areas, we will be building our network of mentors and ambassadors and driving our goal of helping students find passion in work and leadership opportunities. By expanding the array of opportunities for college students, they can more easily align their interests and passions with a societal need to make a difference. Through this experience, I plan to develop my leadership skills to cultivate a like-minded national community of young aspiring undergraduate businesspeople.
Chris Whipple '22
Lionheart Foundation
This summer, I worked virtually as an Outreach Intern with the Lionheart Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on changing the lives of individuals experiencing incarceration, at-risk youth, and teen parents through social-emotional learning programs. On a broad level, my job involved developing and executing projects relating to the Foundation’s long-term goal of expanding its outreach initiatives. More specifically, I created non-profit-specific social media strategies to help the Foundation better understand the social platforms with which they interact to achieve their goal of expanding their presence and following. The bulk of my work consisted of researching social media strategy, writing blogs, developing posts, writing guides, researching language, and working on HubSpot. I found my work to lie at the perfect intersection of my academic interests and professional skills while still challenging me to expand my knowledge. The majority of my professional career has revolved around social media and web management. However, this work had never been on behalf of a non-profit organization such as the Lionheart Foundation. Going into this internship, I did not know how different social media management was for a non-profit. Learning how to adapt my strategies to a completely different circumstance was occasionally challenging, though always rewarding. Given my long-term goals of working in a sector so saturated with non-profit organizations, I am confident that this new understanding of non-profit-specific social media and website strategy will make me a valuable asset in my industry.
Sasha Wong '24
Good Better Best
This summer I got the amazing opportunity to work for an EdTech startup as the Lead Financial analyst. I worked closely with the CEO of Good Better Best to transform a mission-inspired foundation into a platform with the potential to target and disrupt the K12 Socio-Emotional EdTech landscape. Driven by the mission to provide a new way for kids to develop nonacademic skills such as communication, confidence, and personal growth, Good Better Best is building a community of mentors to affect change in underprivileged communities across the US. My role allowed me to network with investors and build out the company’s financial growth projections and targets to ultimately push the company beyond the pre-seed funding round. I was able to discuss with various Venture Capitalists and other entrepreneurs about the value we would provide to communities as well as the EdTech industry. I am thankful for the chance to not only further explore the operational side of finance, but also help families and communities find light and positivity in a period of great economic and social distress. I thank the Winston Center for affording me the chance to do good for others and grow as a socially conscious business leader.
Chris Whipple '22
Managing for Social Impact and Public Good Interdisciplinary Program
This summer I worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Lourdes German, the co-director for the Managing for Social Impact and the Public Good interdisciplinary minor program. In my role I did research on several organizations including the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC). The DBEDC is considered a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) nonprofit which differs from a traditional nonprofit organization. A traditional nonprofit organization receives its funds through fundraisers and donors, whereas a CDFI nonprofit receives funds not only from donors and fundraisers but from the government as well. The DBEDC whose mission is to give those in the Dorchester area more resources and opportunities, was established in 1979 by four residents voicing their concerns about the financial disinvestments, the crime tension, the shortage of affordable housing, and many other issues that resided in their community. Professor German and I held an interview with one of the heads of the organization, Mr. Perry Newman, to learn more about the organization and ways Boston College can partner with them. I have always wanted to start my own nonprofit helping the homeless and after my conversation with Mr. Newman I was inspired to seek future volunteer positions with the organization. Although the DBEDC does not necessarily focus on the homeless it is a great place for me to get an understanding of how nonprofits work. I learned so much about the challenges they face, their accomplishments and how to spot the difference of both nonprofits and CDFI nonprofits. I am very grateful for this internship which has inspired and helped me towards the path of creating my own nonprofit one day.
Stencia Bastien'23
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
This summer I served as a Program Services Intern in the Enrollment Department at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. In my intern role, I interviewed volunteer candidates using extensive behavioral protocols and I participated in virtual visits with families seeking a Big Sister or Big Brother mentor. Following these interviews, I wrote a detailed assessment for each volunteer candidate that was used to ensure the Big candidates aligned with the program’s mission before they were paired with a Little in the Greater Boston Area. In addition to my daily responsibilities, I was tasked with giving an hour-long final presentation to the BBBSEM agency at the end of the 13-week internship, detailing the extensive research I had compiled regarding the efficacy of virtual youth mentoring. This Lunch & Learn presentation, formatted like a TedTalk, offered empirically-based recommendations for BBBSEM as they plan to incorporate virtual youth mentoring into their existing and new matches in the wake of COVID-19. Through the internship, I gained valuable insight into the metrics and conversations involved in making safe and meaningful mentor matches within a wonderful non-profit agency and I grew more skilled in technical writing and public speaking. In my future career as a clinical psychologist, I will utilize the interview techniques, clinical note-taking style, and rapport-building skills I developed this summer.
Cayley Bliss'21
Moore International Law PLLC
This summer I interned for an international law firm based in New York—Moore International Law PLLC. The firm specializes in corporate and patent law, and so I conducted most of my time on a more high profile case between our client and a corporation based in the Middle East. I worked in a research and development role which demanded skills in critical thinking and analysis. I found and assessed annual financial reports for the defendant company and its subsidiaries to look for evidence in proving our case. Whether that be numbers that looked out of place, loopholes in SEC reporting-procedures, or tracing holdings of various kinds of assets—a lot of my role was about shaping a hypothesis, testing it out by finding evidence, and based off that evidence, circling back to reshape my hypothesis again. I would then assemble relevant accounting procedures, corporate transactions, and joint ventures into visual representations and written memorandums independently and presented to senior management as evidence for clients. Overall, reflecting on this experience, I find that I work best on projects that are completely personable and allow me to insert some creative problem solving strategies. While I would have liked to be in the office, I developed equally valuable skills in taking responsibility to truly own my work and leadership in going out of my way to initiative feedback. I hope to translate these enhanced ownership, leadership, and creative problem solving skills—as well as experience assessing financial records and accounting statements—when collaborating with teams in similar industries in the future.
Catherine Levine'22
New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice
This summer I was granted the opportunity to intern remotely at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice which is a coalition of organizations that creates and achieves policies in New Jersey to welcome and support immigrants. I took part in a lot of the communications aspect of the organization and became familiar with the importance of education and awareness for immigrants. I specifically worked on two of the organization’s campaigns. In the Fair and Welcoming Campaign, I conducted research on the process of the passing of an assembly bill in California which prohibited private prisons as the organization would like to do the same in New Jersey. With the Let’s Drive NJ Campaign, I created graphics and resource guides with information regarding the availability of driver’s licenses for all people regardless of immigration status. I created a resource guide with steps to take and also sat in on calls discussing issues of documentation and privacy. Additionally, I spent time working on a resource guide for the Movement for Black Lives. In this resource guide, I included protests going on as well as anti-racism resources and information for undocumented people attending protests. During this internship process, I had the opportunity to see the inside workings of immigrant rights policy advocacy. Although the work I did felt small in comparison to their big strides, I recognized how each project I undertook contributed greatly to the Alliance’s workings to push policies and work towards a more humane society.
Ivana Wijedasa '23
City of Boston Environmental Department
This summer I worked for the City of Boston Environmental Department as a Zero Waste Intern. Even though my internship was fully remote, I was involved in many interesting projects relevant to the current health situation in the world. I researched the safety of reusable bags, masks and gloves during COVID-19, communicated key findings to the Boston Public Health Commission and created signage to educate residents and the business community. In addition, I researched green procurement practices in MA to amend the City of Boston’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) executive order and guidelines. I presented the EPP research and suggested improvements for the future to the Environmental Department Commissioner and 30 staff members. Lastly, I reviewed the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan and provided recommendations to the City of Boston Environmental Department in preparation for public comment. I plan to implement more zero waste practices into my daily life and share my knowledge with family and friends. I am grateful for the amount of time and attention each member of the team spent with me which made this experience both productive and enjoyable. My passion for sustainability has grown and I plan to continue social impact work after graduation.
Catherine Zona '21
International House (Charlotte, NC)
This summer, I interned at International House, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to immigrants and refugees in Charlotte, NC. International House offers education programs as well as legal assistance through their Ginter Immigration Law Clinic, and I was fortunate to work in the law clinic as an intern. I worked alongside the immigration attorneys there and assisted them with legal documents, directly administering client files that were sent to US Immigration offices. I learned how to receive new client intakes and spent a lot of time interacting with immigrants and refugees who came into the office. I also learned a lot about how a nonprofit functions. After graduation, I plan to work in some type of nonprofit or service organization before attending law school, and I’m extremely appreciative that interning at International House allowed me to experience a nonprofit organization as well as a law office. Before my experience at International House, I did not know a lot about the specifics of a lawyer’s job. I ended the summer with a greater understanding of the state of immigration in the US and with more knowledge of the daily life of an immigration attorney, which has made me more confident in my plans for the future. I am so grateful for my experience at International House and I’m especially grateful to the Winston Center for making my time there possible.
Mary Catherine Cremens '21
The Adovates for Human Rights (Minneapolis, MN)
I spent the summer of 2019 as an intern at The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that aims to uphold the principles of human rights laid out in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Advocates does a variety of international human rights work, from lobbying countries during the Universal Periodic Review to evaluating the efficacy of legal systems in responding to violence against women. Specifically, I worked with the Refugee & Immigrant Program, whose work centered on immigration and labor trafficking. The Refugee & Immigrant Program supports asylum seekers from around the world by providing them with volunteer legal representation. As an intern, I was the first point of contact between our organization and immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Through my interviews with asylum seekers, I was humbled by the persecution and trauma that has brought so many to the US. Even more powerful, though, was the awe I felt at the resilience and persistence of our clients. In addition to supporting our case work, I answered calls to the National Asylum Help Line, an experience that continuously revealed to me the importance of speaking the native language of those you wish to support. I was also able to speak with detainees in Minnesota’s largest ICE detention facility and observe an individual hearing in Federal Immigration Court, staggering experiences that I continue to contemplate. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to work with The Advocates for Human Rights thanks to the support of the Winston Center.
Emma Kane '21
Charles River Watershed Association (Boston, MA)
This past summer I was given the amazing opportunity to intern with the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), a nonprofit organization with the goal of protecting and enhancing the Charles River through science, advocacy, and the law. The CRWA is one of the oldest and prominent watershed organizations that was, and still is, at the forefront of improving the water quality of the Charles during the mid 20th century and on. This commitment is still seen today, as the organization has helped keep the Charles clean with the collaboration of the surrounding towns in the watershed and the city of Boston. My position with the CRWA was as a watershed science intern. My time with the organization was split between field and office work. My fieldwork consisted of the flagging, cyanobacteria, and water chestnut removal programs. The flagging program was used to determine whether the water was safe to boat or swim in. For field work, I would sometimes join another staff member who runs our water chestnut removal program. This program helps educate about the invasive European water chestnut and its negative impact on the Charles while also providing volunteer groups the chance to kayak on the Charles and remove the invasive species. This internship has provided me invaluable research and field work experience, while also giving me a glimpse into the law and advocacy side of environmental protection and conservation. Although I am more orientated towards the science aspect of the environment, interning with the CRWA has made me realize the importance of public policy and law when involved with conservation.
James Fernandes '20
Office of Senator Patrick O'Connor (Boston, MA)
This summer, thanks to the assistance of the Winston Center, I was able to fulfill a long-standing dream of mine by working in the Massachusetts State Senate. As a resident of Massachusetts my entire life, working for State Senator Patrick O’Connor (Plymouth-Norfolk) has been a dream come true. I’ve been able to interact with constituents from my own town and see their legislative ideas acted upon. This is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of public service because it has given me the opportunity to be involved in the complex dynamics of state politics – something I am eager to pursue going forward. Senator O’Connor has truly become a role model to me. He emulates someone who is fiercely passionate about his community and someone who is willing to work tirelessly to see the interests of his constituents pursued. I’ve loved working for the Commonwealth and am even more passionate for fighting for the needs of my local town, district, and the people who need representation on Beacon Hill. I’ve truly loved my time there and hope to return the following summer or after I graduate.
Steven LeGere '21
Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, Financial Crimes Unit (Whippany, NJ)
As an intern for the Financial Crimes unit within the Division of Criminal Justice at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, I worked closely with several detectives and deputy attorney generals. I was granted the opportunity to look through several cases that the Financial Crimes unit had completed in the past in order to see what methods they used to reach a conviction. After reading some case examples my advisor and I collectively chose which cases the unit would be working on for the upcoming months. I also got to work through some of the evidence for a money laundering case that the unit was working on, which consisted of analyzing bank statements to determine which transactions were suspicious. Not only did I help the detectives from my unit, but I also was granted the opportunity to shadow one of the deputy attorney generals and help her prepare for court. This consisted of writing plea memos and other documents for several facial scrub cases. Additionally, I was able to attend court with her and listen in on a witness prep for a trial. The internship program also organized several field trips and presentations from the Director of the Criminal Justice Department and the Attorney General himself for further learning and experience. Some of the field trips consisted of a tour of the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, a Firearms Simulator Training, and a tour of the New Jersey State Police DNA Laboratories and Ballistics Unit. Overall my internship taught me how important teamwork is in order to have the best shot at a conviction for a criminal case. All of the detectives and attorneys would work together to gather evidence and bounce ideas off of one another in order to reach the best verdict possible. Due to this I learned how important it is to never be afraid to ask questions or for help when you need it. My summer experience at the Attorney General’s Office also helped to develop my passion for working towards justice while making sure that everyone is given the opportunity to be innocent until proven guilty.
Brittany Shortall '20
Big Brothers Big Sisters (Boston, MA)
This summer I was granted the opportunity to work as an enrollment intern at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, a non-profit organization that pairs children in the greater Boston area with a positive adult mentor. The program uses the outline of positive youth development researcher pioneered by Dr. Jacqueline Lerner of the Lynch School of Education- to increase the Little’s confidence, compassion, curiosity, caring, character, and social and emotional competence. This was an especially salient part of the organization for me, as I have studied these concepts from Dr. Lerner as an applied psychology student in the Lynch School and felt incredibly fortunate to be able to implement them in a real life context. In my work as an enrollment intern, I conducted hour and a half long interviews with potential Big’s, eventually taking ownership over the whole interview which explored different aspects of the potential Big’s life and communication styles. I was also able to accompany my supervisor on home visits, where we interviewed potential Little’s and their families to ascertain whether or not they were a good fit for the program, which was an incredibly humbling experience where I was privileged enough to hear the stories and adversities of families living all over the Greater Boston area. This summer gave me the idea that it is possible to impart change in ways that might not alter overarching systems of inequality, but that will still make a difference in the lives of individuals, which is surely a step in the right direction. I am so incredibly fortunate that I was granted this learning opportunity through the generosity of the Winston Center.
Sheridan Miller '20
Sakhi for South Asian Women (New York, NY)
This summer I had the privilege of joining the team at Sakhi for South Asian Women, a non-profit organization based in Manhattan that supports survivors of gender-based violence from the South Asian diaspora. I worked primarily in the realm of mental health, with a hand in both the behind-the-scenes operations of the organization and direct interactions with survivors. I was placed in the Direct Services department, which branches into Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Counseling. My work was project-based under my supervisor, a counselor at Sakhi, but also varied depending on her day-to-day needs. My largest project was making a comprehensive and culturally competent mental health resource guide, which I created as a ~20 page book with South Asian-specific resources ranging from health providers to social media accounts. I worked on this resource guide essentially for the entire span of the internship–with several smaller projects in between–and established partnerships with many of the organizations listed as resources. One of my other projects was creating new intake forms, which need to be filled out whenever Sakhi has a new client or internally refers a client to a different department. After going through trauma training, my focus was on making these forms trauma-informed, such that the questions would be thorough but not triggering. I was also able to form relationships with clients while working together on applications for higher education and access to ESL classes. I hope to pursue a career in medicine, and my internship has led to my growing interest in women’s health, primarily with immigrant and first generation women. Many thanks to the Winston Center for supporting my internship and allowing me the opportunity to explore non-profit work.
Leena Rijhwani '20
US Commerical Service (Shanghai, China)
This past summer, I was given the great opportunity to intern for the U.S. Commercial Service in Shanghai, China. The U.S. Commercial Service in China, part of the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, is charged with helping American businesses export goods and services to China. I was able to participate in this internship at a really unique time, in which the U.S. and China were engaged in a trade conflict. Throughout my 10-week internship, my day-to-day duties varied. I had a role in numerous projects, including both independent and collaborative work as well as event management. I assisted with student briefings, assisted officers in attending events such as TOEFL Seminar, served on a panel to share my experience working in the Commercial Service, and attended the CES Asia Trade show and helped represent the office. I also helped create a China Industries News Tracker that was distributed to other government offices throughout China. The highlight for me was representing my office in a meeting between a company and the Consul General. From this experience, I was able to learn a lot about the China market and how foreign companies operate in China and was able to get a firsthand look at international trade and business. I am thankful for the Winston Center’s support in helping me take part in this opportunity and helping me learn more about international business. This was a truly unique experience that I will keep with me throughout my personal and professional career.
Ariana Farsai '20
Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic (Cambridge, MA)
Prior to my experience at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic (HIRC), I did not fully understand the complex nature of immigration law. I applied for the internship at HIRC because I was drawn to its mission to “advocate for immigrant justice through clinical education, legal representation, litigation, and community outreach.” At HIRC, I was given the unique opportunity to work with law students, distinguished attorneys, social workers, and migrants from a number of different countries and backgrounds. Among other projects, I worked closely on an asylum case that will appear before an immigration judge this fall. I was responsible for interpreting between Spanish and English during interviews, as well as posing some of my own interview questions. I worked directly on the asylum-seeker's affidavit (a personal declaration submitted to the court) and conducted country condition research in English and Spanish for the filing. In addition to learning about the work that goes on at a public interest law office and about immigration law and procedure, I also gained insight about the real-life implications that laws have on the marginalized community of undocumented migrants. Working directly with clients opened my eyes to the particularly traumatizing nature of their experiences and how that trauma is exacerbated here in the U.S. through both societal and legal factors.
Mariana Ferreria '21
Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust (Wellington, New Zealand)
This past summer, I was granted the opportunity to work in and travel throughout New Zealand, an invaluable experience which beyond exceeded my expectations. For three months, I learned how to diagnose, medicate, treat, and care for a variety of sick or injured endemic and domesticated birds as a rehabilitation intern at Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust. I also learned about how the sanctuary interacts with the public and the SPCA to provide the unique and comprehensive care that they are able to provide as a nonprofit organization. My favorite job was the care of the endangered Brown Teal/Pāteke, of which WBRT has a successful captive breeding program. In addition to this work, I conducted research about unprotected and introduced wildlife species to assist in coordinating future releases of wild birds. One of the most interesting things I learned was the importance of good leadership at an environmental charity. Cleanliness was a top priority which ensured the wellbeing of both the animals and people. Additionally, creative and ambitious steps would always be taken to help an injured animal or to find a good home for a rehabilitated bird. My coworkers were utterly compassionate, treating all birds regardless of their “value” to society. It was often the case that an injured gull or rosella (wild birds) which would otherwise be euthanized by the SPCA was brought in to WBRT, where any attempt would be made to save the animal. As a result, WBRT reflects the high value of individual life of wildlife to the public. It was enlightening to be immersed in a culture that realizes the value and beauty of their surroundings, which clearly reflected on the happiness and health of the population. I’m very thankful to the Winston Center for the opportunity to learn so much both in my field and about the environment and culture of New Zealand.
Hayley Kunkle '20
FAC and HRIP Clinics at Suffolk Law School (Boston, MA)
This summer I was fortunate enough to have worked under the guidance of two lawyers in the FAC and HRIP clinics at Suffolk Law School. In the HRIP clinic, I was able to practice advocacy work on behalf of an indigenous group in Brazil whose land rights, particularly under the principle of “free, prior, and informed consent,” are continuously violated by their president and his agribusiness allies. I co-wrote an update memo to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in which we outlined the necessity for Early Warning Measures and Urgent Action Procedures in relation to Brazil. This experience was valuable because I was able to research international human rights violations and learn how to communicate effectively with international human rights bodies to inform and affect justice. I also was given opportunities in editing self-representation guides for local tribal courts, and learned how to write effective and efficient briefs in order to build a case on behalf of a tribal islander community in Colombia whose voices were ignored in a territorial and maritime dispute decision by the ICJ. In the FAC clinic, my experience was fascinating and frustrating. Our clinic largely tackles domestic violence cases, so I continuously witnessed the legal twilight zone domestic violence survivors face in the court room and realized the need for the family legal system to be re-trained and revised. My experience was nothing short of purposeful and formative, and I extend my deepest gratitude to the Winston Center for affording me this chance. It has affirmed my passion for pursuing a career in human rights law, and I am excited to continue my research with the FAC lawyer this fall. My desire in working towards a publicly demanding exposition of important societal needs and moralities, as prescribed by the law, has never been stronger.
Mckenna Madden ’20
Boston Mayor's Office of Recovery Services (Boston, MA)
This past summer, I had the pleasure of being a part of the Boston Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services as an intern. Over my ten-week internship, I learned so much about the inner workings of government, the logistics of public health implementation and the communication skills necessary for a public-facing office. As an intern with the Office of Recovery Services, I assisted with various tasks including graphic design work for the City of Boston, policy planning meetings with multiple city departments, answering constituent concern letters, and working on a restorative justice initiative Project STEP Renew. Through the initiative Project STEP Renew I was fortunate enough to assist returning citizens in the process of resume creation, navigating city job websites, technology literacy and general needs such as access to Charlie Cards to be able to navigate the City of Boston. I was also fortunate to be able to attend several City meetings about the planning of the groundbreaking Long Island Recovery Campus. I was able to observe how much intense collaboration and coordination is required to get such an initiative off the ground and put into practice. This entire internship experience taught me how critical collaboration, communication, and ingenuity are in the workplace, particularly in the field of social services. The recovery services team I worked with placed an emphasis on strong communication through informal meetings as well as carving out more formal space when necessary to make sure that all of the goals of the Office were aligned. The Office of Recovery Services is much more than just direct service implementation, the Office also works in community overdose prevention, youth prevention strategies, advocacy around an end to stigma around substance use and citywide strategic goals around substance use and recovery.
Clare Ryan '20
Gateway South Asia (Kathmandu, India)
I spent this past summer in both India and Nepal partnering with local organizations and the local church. The communities that I interned with opened my eyes to how central the topics of justice, unity, and restoration are in God’s heart for the world. The opportunity to develop deep relationships with these groups has allowed me to better understand how to serve in a way that is both ethical and sustainable. As part of my internship, I also helped host volunteers as they came to join these organizations and serve alongside us. Leading these individuals was wonderful and stretching. One of my roles was to help introduce the volunteers to the culture and customs of the city that we were in. This was done by heightening their awareness, understanding, communication skills and overall cultural competency. With this foundation, service could be done in an increasingly loving and honoring manner. While consistently growing in my own cultural competency, this process taught me about the importance of humility in service, leadership, and life. This internship has also taught me a significant amount about intercultural and interreligious dialogue, which is of immeasurable importance. As a result of this summer, I have become a more conscious, compassionate, and loving global citizen. I now have a greater vision for pursuing a career advocating for Human Rights. Whether domestic or abroad, I plan to build upon this zeal for justice and for seeing the love of God bring light to places where there was once darkness.
Morgan Schade '21
Impilo Phambili Public Health Internship Program (South Africa)
I was afforded the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, and participate in the Impilo Phambili Community Projects and Internship Programme. My involvement in this program focused on public health, and allowed me to take on a leadership role to design projects suited to the specific needs of the NGOs that I was partnering with. The unique history of South African apartheid and the legal termination of this segregation in 1994 contributed to the distinct context of my experience, as I noticed social implications of apartheid are still very much evident. I worked closely with SHAWCO, a University of Cape Town student-run nonprofit community outreach organization, at their nightly clinics in various townships in surrounding areas of Cape Town. I conducted research to assist SHAWCO in improving patient flow and attempting to bridge the gap between its private complimentary clinics and the public healthcare facilities sparsely available to the working residents of the townships. In addition to examining patient flow, I was exposed firsthand to the major differences in healthcare services and accessibility among different areas in South Africa and also between South Africa and the United States. The contrast in treatment among the residents of the townships, refugees, and those living in wealthy neighborhoods was striking. Moreover, I partnered with two NGOs that provide assimilation services to refugees, United Family and Cape Town Refugee Centre. United Family organized the World Refugee Day event held at the Civic Centre in Cape Town. My attendance at this event showed me various accounts of harsh realities that are present in the lives of refugees in the form of narratives, song, and dialogue, and also information about various services available to these resilient individuals. At Cape Town Refugee Centre, I worked closely with the social worker to assist high school refugee students who were striving to achieve a tertiary education. The intense drive of these young students was astounding, and we provided them with counseling and access to additional resources to help fund their endeavors. I am extremely thankful for the Winston Center’s support in this venture to further expand my global knowledge of the oppressive barriers that many face, and to work toward creating a just world through this remarkable experience.
Meghan Bennett ’20
White House Internship (DC)
This past summer, I had the honor of being part of the White House Internship Program. In the program, I was assigned to the National Economic Council (NEC). It was an absolutely incredible 10-week experience—I learned so much, and made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. As an intern with the NEC, I assisted with a variety of tasks, including conducting research, writing memos, and providing logistical support for officials and their guests within the focus area of technology, telecommunication, and cybersecurity. By sitting in on meetings and working with individuals at the NEC, I was able to gain a firsthand understanding of the process by which goals are accomplished at the White House. I was continuously struck by the level of dedication and patriotism displayed in the everyday work of those in the administration. Another highlight of the internship program was a speaker series which included presentations by several high-level members of the administration. These individuals spoke to the interns about their careers and offered advice. The NEC interns in particular had the incredible opportunity to meet NEC Director Larry Kudlow. Mr. Kudlow was very generous with his time and invited the NEC interns to lunch, during which he shared his insights regarding both work and life. This internship was a very unique and formative experience, and from it, I grew both professionally and personally. I learned more about working in the public sector and experienced collaboration in a team environment. After college, I hope to take the experience I gained in the public sector last summer and use it to improve my work in a public accounting firm. In the long term, I hope to use it to work either in the government or at a nonprofit organization.
Daisy Cherian ’20
Norfolk District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit (MA)
As an intern for the Special Victims Unit in the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, I worked closely with the director of the unit, specially trained assistant district attorneys, and victim witness advocates. I co-managed the daily intake of reports of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and disabled person abuse. I was fortunate to work closely with the victim witness advocate for disability abuse cases and completed various projects for her, including creating and maintaining a master list of her case files. Additionally, the Internship Program organized weekly field trips and seminars for further learning and experience. We had intimate and informative presentations by members of the State Police Homicide and Drug Units. The presentation by the state troopers from the Drug Unit was particularly interesting and exciting for me as I have been a research assistant in a Boston College psychology lab studying the opiate epidemic for several years. However, my internship experience taught me far more than the logistics of the law. As an administrative support for numerous assistant district attorneys and victim witness advocates, I was fortunate to witness firsthand how crucial teamwork is for the prosecution of a criminal case. Even the most experienced lawyers in the office regularly traveled down the hallway to ask for advice or thoughts on a case they were working on, and each member of the team, whether it be the director, attorney, or advocate, is instrumental to ensure a successful outcome. This experience taught me to never be afraid to seek help or advice from other individuals while working on a project. Reading through hundreds of police reports and child services reports also showed me that unordinary crimes and situations constantly affect seemingly “ordinary” people. Even though I already strive always to be open-minded, I will continue to do so more fervently because you never truly know what someone has gone through or will go through. I am even more dedicated now to becoming a lawyer so that I may be an advocate for anyone whose voice demands and needs to be heard.
Elizabeth Coughlin ’20
Americares Foundation, Inc. (CT)
Last summer, I had the opportunity to take part in an internship program at Americares Foundation, Inc., a global health nonprofit deeply involved in disaster relief efforts and community health promotion programs both domestically and globally. As a pre-law student and public health minor, working in the legal department of a health non-profit was the perfect fit for me last summer. I was able to learn about how a nonprofit operates while also gaining a deeper understanding of the legal requirements and regulations necessary for the operation of such an organization. I learned that without the legal department, none of Americares’ efforts would be possible. As part of the legal department, I assisted in drafting and editing contracts, organizing various permits and legal documents, creating a short presentation about some of the international permitting Americares does to be presented to headquarters staff at the weekly staff meeting, and assisted in the licensing applications for wholesale drug distribution and charitable organization operation within states across the country. Additionally, all of the interns took part in a group project that took place throughout the summer. Our task was to research and compile recommendations for an international disaster preparedness toolkit for local health clinics, so that they are better able to prepare themselves in case of emergencies such as floods, hurricanes, fires, droughts, or armed conflict. This internship helped me to make the decision to apply to law school this fall. I realized that I am passionate about health, and through my interest in law and supporting skillset, I believe that pursuing a career in a field such as health law would allow me to promote health while helping others. My experience at Americares provided me with invaluable tools in teamwork, organization, communication, and confidence in myself as a future professional. I plan to use these skills as I pursue my legal education in the coming year.
Kaylie Daniels ’19
Global Ties U.S. (DC)
As a recipient of a summer internship grant from the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, I had a positive and enriching experience interning at Global Ties U.S. in Washington, DC. I worked as the Public Diplomacy and Exchange Intern and was able to learn a lot about the work of Global Ties in relation to the US State Department as well as dip my toes into nonprofit management in general. I conducted preliminary research to contribute to the writing of grant proposals for exchange programming. I compiled a background guide on the World's Fair for distribution to a national network of members after a consortium including Global Ties was chosen to host the US pavilion at Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates. I created and assembled administrative materials for international exchange participants while streamlining material creation processes that will make the transition for the next intern much smoother than it had been for me. I also chaired an all-company staff meeting to facilitate clear and efficient communication between teams. I am grateful for the support I received from the Winston Center that made my summer internship possible.
Mary Grace Mitchell ’20
Boston Children’s Hospital (MA)
Last summer, I was given the opportunity to work as a Pediatric Epilepsy Clinical Research Intern at the Loddenkemper Research Laboratory. As a summer intern at Boston Children’s Hospital, I assisted in patient clinical chart review, data management, and data entry. Along with the research assistants, I was able to interact with patients and their families and inform them of the lab’s research as well as introduce them to new developments, including a mobile application used to document seizure activity. I was also able to participate in epilepsy conferences and shadow opportunities at Boston Children’s Hospital. At the beginning of the summer, my goal was to work in a clinical research setting in order to explore the fields of medicine and research, and their interconnection. The Loddenkemper Research Lab provided me with the perfect opportunity to learn more about clinical research, and allowed me to hone skills including collaborating with others and effectively communicating research projects to patients and their families. These interactions allowed me to witness firsthand the effects that this research has had on the epilepsy community, and the impact it will have in the future. My hope for the future is to attend graduate school to become a physician’s assistant, and I believe that this internship allowed me to take many steps forward in reaching that goal. I received my first exposure to the research side of medicine, and have spoken with many people about their experiences and what led them to their current career path. I am confident that the skills I have learned last summer will translate well into my future career, and I am more enthusiastic than ever about taking the next steps toward that goal.
Sarah Ryan ’20
Governor’s Internship Program (MA)
Last summer, I had the opportunity to be a part of Governor Baker’s Internship Program. I spent half of my time working at the State House in the Executive Office for Lieutenant Governor Polito and the other half working at the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI). Working in both of these offices was a unique experience that gave me a multidimensional understanding of state government. As an intern in the Executive Office, I was able to get an inside look into the major policies that the Baker administration is pushing, attend important State House events, such as the meetings of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and the Governor's reception for the prime minister of Portugal, and assist staff with the logistics and coordination of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s busy schedules. At the state house, the interns also participated in an Intern Speaker Series Program, where we got the opportunity to hear from influential members of the Governor’s team each week. My favorite speaker was our final one—Governor Charlie Baker—as we got the opportunity to tell him a little bit more about the specific projects we had been working on for him. He also gave us great advice that I will always remember as I move forward in my career. During the other half of the week at MOITI, I had the opportunity to combine my passion for international affairs and economics. My main responsibility at MOITI was creating recommendation documents for the Governor on some of Massachusetts’s largest international trading partners. I also got the opportunity to prepare official proclamations that Governor Baker would present during international cultural celebrations in Massachusetts. Although I do not plan to enter politics after I graduate, my internship with the Governor’s Office and MOITI allowed me to gain a newfound appreciation for the work that the Baker-Polito administration has done for the residents of Massachusetts. Being able to witness firsthand their effective leadership styles has allowed me to develop new leadership skills of my own that will be useful in any future career.
Julia Sandquist ’20
Asociación Argentina de Cultura Inglesa (Argentina)
Education and the arts are two of the most powerful tools for promoting inclusivity, empowerment, and cultural understanding; working with the Asociación Argentina de Cultura Inglesa (AACI) in Buenos Aires confirmed and strengthened this belief for me. This 90-year-old nonprofit dedicated to education and culture has a long history of supporting the arts, from providing rehearsal and performance spaces for theatre groups to counting iconic Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges among its former professors. One of the most significant projects I contributed to during my time with AACI was leading the launch of a biweekly arts newsletter to bring attention to the diverse range of genres and unique blend of influences that form the arts scene of Buenos Aires. Additionally, I assisted in planning and managing an annual conference of directors of Latin American language institutes held this year in Argentina in mid-July. Participating in the planning of the conference allowed me to observe interesting conversations among the directors about, for example, changing models of teaching, incorporating technology into learning, and improving offerings in terms of inclusivity and resources for students with special needs. Because the environment and population are vastly different between, for example, Brazil and Mexico, I was given the opportunity to learn about many different challenges facing educators throughout this region of the world. The increased foreign language fluency and communications experience I gained during my time with AACI will have an invaluable impact going forward as I explore my passion for helping to foster cross-cultural communication, acceptance, and respect across borders through promoting education and the arts.
Sarah Santoro ’20
Moolchand Hospital (India)
Last summer, I had the opportunity to investigate the clinical administration of the ketogenic diet at Moolchand Hospital in South Delhi. During June and July, I worked in the Ayurveda, Oncology, and Operation Theater departments to gain a comprehensive overview of local cancer management and treatment programs. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. I was particularly interested in the dietary treatments used to manage and treat benign or malignant tumors. Although I expected to be observing clinical administration of the diet in order to learn how the translation of our basic research might be improved, I gained far more knowledge regarding the implementation barriers to successful administration. In contrast to administrative barriers, however, I observed no conflicts between the doctors from different departments. Rather, they seemed to work in synergy to provide the best care. I observed that a patient's financial background was always a main consideration. When I asked why this so important, I learned that the doctors were concerned with the notion of financial toxicity. I was drawn to the values reflected in this concern and found it such a refreshing change from the norms of the American healthcare system. Separately from the administration of the ketogenic diet, I had the opportunity to assist neurosurgeon Dr. Mukherjee in his visit to communities in rural India. Traveling nearly 200 km outside of Delhi, he would visit three hospitals over the course of a single day and see over 80 patients. These patients would bring in scans and present new symptoms to Dr. Mukherjee and he would quickly evaluate their situation and provide advice and/or medication. He did all of this work for free and, though it took time away from his profitable work, he felt a strong desire and calling to help these communities that were lacking basic necessities. This was an absolutely incredible experience.
Evey Satterfield ’20
Samhita Social Ventures (India)
Last summer, I interned at Samhita Social Ventures, a social enterprise devoted to corporate social responsibility (CSR) consulting for corporations in India. Samhita acts as an intermediary between nonprofits and the corporate world, helping businesses become more impactful and ethical by assisting with CSR strategy, nonprofit partner identification, impact assessment, employee engagement, creating flagship corporate social responsibility programs, and organizing high-impact social platforms that engage with several stakeholders. Because Samhita is right at the intersection of the social and corporate sectors, this internship was an immense opportunity for me to see how these two sectors can collaborate to create high impact. During my time at Samhita, I primarily worked for the project management team, which was responsible for end-to-end management of projects, including pre-sales and implementation. This allowed me to see the wide range of social intervention and CSR activities. Because of this opportunity to learn about both the corporate and social sector throughout my internship, last summer was an immense learning experience. I plan to implement what I have learned at Samhita by using this experience to guide me in my post-graduate career choices. As I work toward graduation this year, I am continually reflecting on how I can use my experience and skills to choose a career path that allows me to create a positive impact. Samhita enabled me to grasp the wide range of avenues where one can pursue social change, and introduced me to a new avenue of creating meaningful impact. In the past, I thought choosing a career geared toward social change meant working in direct impact or within the nonprofit sector. However, Samhita showed me that corporations have an immense power to create positive impact through CSR activities. In the long term, I plan on implementing what I have learned at Samhita to pursue my own socially responsible and sustainable social enterprise. My personal passion is working with individuals with developmental disabilities, and I hope to one day start a social enterprise that creates employment for this population. My internship at Samhita will help me work toward this goal because being situated in a growing company showed me many of the components necessary to start a new business.
Kelly Stone ’19
Physicians for Human Rights (MA)
I am grateful to have had the summer interning at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), an incredible organization that works to secure justice for survivors of human rights abuses through the use of forensic and scientific evidence. At PHR, I supported the Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones team. This team helps provide a variety of multisectoral training for medical professionals, law enforcement, and legal professionals to better support survivors of gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Iraq. During my time at PHR, I gained an enormous amount of knowledge about international and human rights law, implementing culturally competent training in different country settings and producing materials to support that training, and gained important insight about best practices when working in teams. I had the opportunity to produce an executive summary detailing the armed conflict in Colombia, which was used as comprehensive background for project expansion, and worked on a companion guide for physicians to reference to when filling out medical certificate forms used in future training and monthly security updates.Thanks to the support of the Winston Center and my team at PHR, I gained invaluable insight on ethical leadership and helping others both in the workspace and in an international context in order to work toward a moral, ethical, fair, and just world.
Kaitlyn Wilson ’20
Political development in conflict zones, United Nations
I served as the Political Development Intern on the Middle East and West Asia Desk of the Department of Political Affairs Department at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. My specific assignment was Yemen. As an Intern in the Political Affairs Department, I conducted political analysis of key conflict zones in the country, creating reports for the Secretary General's Office as well as other high level officials in the UN. I worked closely with colleagues to monitor and assess global political developments in order to detect potential crisis and solutions in the country. My time at the UN challenged me to think outside of my comfort zone. As the only American on my team I learned the nuances of international cooperation on a small scale. I was challenged to think from other perspectives and pay attention to cultural differences in workplace interactions.
Molly Davis, MCAS '18
Heights Article on Davis' Researcheon the Yemeni Civil War
Empowering Women, Cord Siruvani
I secured a GlobeMed’s Grassroots Onsite Work (GROW) internship to work with CORD Siruvani, a social work/public health nonprofit located in Tamil Nadu, India. My time there was spent in the field, shadowing the CORD community workers on Mahila Mandal visits. Mahila Mandals are women empowerment groups that seek to provide women with economic options, through micro financing and self-generated income projects, as well as a space in which they can support each other. I also had the opportunity to see the tangible outcomes of the BC GlobeMed-CORD Siruvani partnership through visiting different sites around Tamil Nadu. Our main partnership projects have been focused on improving the current waste segregation system as well as public health ventures. Through visiting these project sites and listening to the concerns of the CORD community workers and the Tamil Nadu citizens, we were able to see how our projects could be improved on.
Sierra Dennehy, MCAS '18
Social entrepreneurship, Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub
The Flywheel website promises a belief in the “power of social enterprises to make communities stronger.” I worked on the Welcome Project, a joint boutique/kitchen in the heart of Camp Washington. I was immersed in conversations, phone calls, workshops, and research to build out a business plan for this enterprise that would employ the local refugee population. I was inspired by the Welcome Project team, who had a clear vision and passion for building a sustainable venture that would support and enhance the Camp Washington area. I heard this same passion in the voices of social entrepreneurs who came to the “Business Model Canvas for the Social Entrepreneur” Workshop. I had never been surrounded with people who had this passion for community development, but also a drive to develop a high quality service or product to meet market demands. The entrepreneurs that I interacted with and worked beside accelerated my interest in entrepreneurship. The experience left me believing in the power of social enterprises to make communities stronger.
Phil McHugh, CSOM ’20
Domestic violence and the law, Queens District Attorney Office
In the Domestic Violence Bureau at the Queens District Attorney’s Office in New York, I was able to work alongside an Assistant District Attorney and learned the ins and outs of the courthouse. I learned how to initiate first contact with victims, meet with the police officers who responded to the scene, and later interview the victims themselves. I was also able to stand in the well of the courtroom and watch the outcome of the case unfold. The DA office also works closely with the non-profit Safe Horizons to ensure that the victims were able to obtain counseling and services outside of the legal assistance that we provided. Many victims I worked with had extremely inspiring stories that have shaped how I see and interact with the world. Being able to see the legal process through this lens and how it is possible to work through division barriers has led me to see the law in a multidimensional sense, and to understand that it is so much more than what happens in the courtroom.
Samantha Schneider, MCAS '18