LEAP Symposium 2017: Full Schedule

At LEAP, nearly 300 Mount Holyoke students present about their internships and research experiences. You will hear from future policy makers, activists, entrepeneurs, data scientists, teachers, researchers, and market analysts. Most will tell stories of unmitigated success and transformative learning. Others will share details of unexpected challenges they faced, and how they were required to shift and adapt in response. Students worked in 42 countries in every imaginable field. They will discuss important issues of social justice, relate how they met challenges of communication and expression in new contexts, and talk about how to find and succeed in summer internships.

LEAP is designed to give students who aspire to undertake internships and summer research the opportunity to learn from their peers. It is also for the whole Mount Holyoke community where family, friends, faculty, staff and our alumnae come together to celebrate the work and contributions of the presenters.

We are hugely impressed by students in College 211 and inspired by their individual success and collective learning. Their work in bringing the LEAP Symposium to fruition was exceptional. We thank the faculty, staff, alumnae, donors, and internship and research providers whose contributions have make this event possible.

LEAP presenters: Congratulations.

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12:30pm

Cultural Translations: Asia-America

The rise of technology and access has led to a fast track towards globalization and cosmopolitanism. However, with it has brought a set of new challenges and conflicts. We are four students who worked in a wide variety of fields to better facilitate, work with, and understand the cultural gaps between the East and the West. While some of our experiences have assisted in creating stronger ties and education between the two cultures, others have observed the negative consequences when cultural translations fail. Come join our panel to learn more about how the United States and its relationships with various Asian countries have shaped our understanding of cultural translations today.

Moderators

Timothy Malacarne

Visiting Assistant Professor of Data Science

Speakers

(4) Camille Gladieux

Timothy Malacarne, Sociology & Anthropology

Boomerang Adoptees: Making Moves in South Korea

Carmen Huang

Cultural Gems in a Magnetic Field, Anthropology and East Asian Studies Major

Carmen will share what special events and community outreach look like at cultural institutions such as that of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) in NYC. How do the development sectors of museums accrue funding and/or fundraise? What are ways in which museums are attracting... Read More →

Sally Ma

Navigating Challenges: Unfamiliar Workplace and Sensitivity of Language, International Relations & East Asian Studies Major

While studying abroad in Shanghai, I interned at naked Discovery. This company provides creative lifestyle and learning services and is a space for children and professionals to develop or expand their learning and leadership skills. However, during my time with naked Discovery, the... Read More →

Mengyao Xu

Clash of Cultures in Workplace, Economics and Math Major

| I interned at Gap Inc. China in Shanghai in summer 2016. My position was Old Navy store ops (operations) intern, and my role was to support operations and communication between the management team in the office and the staff in local stores in various cities. I was responsible... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Reese 316

Session I

12:30pm

Design Across Borders

“Design Across Borders” presents cross-continental perspectives in the interdisciplinary field of architectural design. The panel encompasses the thought processes, research and design principles that different cultures, traditions and geographies learn and influence. It offers four worldly perspectives, as the students come from Ethiopia, Nepal, Malaysia, and the United States. The panelists utilized their knowledge and experience gained in Mount Holyoke studios, courses and seminars and applied it to develop projects in fields related to architecture. The design experiences range from residential, commercial and ecological to sustainability metrics and general contracting for simple to complex spaces. The panelists brought their knowledge and perspectives to small private firms and international non-profits. These internships allowed the panelists to gain practical skills in a wide range of fields within architecture and encouraged them to address key issues within the building design and construction industry.

Moderators

Michael Davis

Professor of Art History, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

Nicole De Araujo

Design to Construction: Combining the Two Worlds of Architecture, Architecture Major

My internship was divided into two parts to explore both the construction and design aspect of the architecture field. First I interned at Space4 Architecture, a firm based in New York. There I created scaled foam models, 3-D renderings and an installation piece. This expanded my... Read More →

Shikha Thakali

Sustainable Design, Architecture & Economics Major

This summer, I worked as an Arc and Buildings intern for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in Washington D.C. Within USGBC, I worked primarily with Arc Skoru Inc., a new technology company launched by USGBC that allows any project, whether a single building, a community, or... Read More →

Ruth Wondimu

Learn, then Experience Architecture, Architecture & Geography Major

For the past summer, I interned at Breeze consultancy, an architectural and engineering firm in Ethiopia. In the first couple of weeks, I learned the digital softwares AutoCAD and Revit. Although I had taken a digital design class at Mount Holyoke, I hadn’t realized how the need... Read More →

(2) Sara-Ann Yong

Naomi Darling, Art History and Architectural Studies

Japanese Wood Construction: Design Proposal for the Nitobe Inazo Memorial Hall

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Clapp 218

Session I

12:30pm

Environmental Research, Restoration, and Rehabilitation

As we learn more about the environment and our impact on it through our studies, we find it crucial to apply those concepts to the field and broaden our idea of what a classroom can be. While we range in our interests, we share the common goal of protecting and restoring the environment. Our individual internships include wildlife rehabilitation of birds in Eastern Oregon, aquatic vegetation study in Connecticut, coral research in Thailand, and wetland restoration research in New England. Though our experiences were varied, we can all agree that it is important to not only do research to understand the challenges our environment is facing, but to develop and implement a plan to address these challenges in the future.

Moderators

Jason Andras

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Speakers

(3) Shannon Cook

Renae Brodie, Biological Studies

Are we in hot water?: comparing macroinvertebrate communities and water quality over time

Emma Lynch

Coral Damage Due to Human-Driven Factors on the Island of Koh Lipe, Thailand, Biology Major

Through the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) in Thailand, I completed an independent research project on coral reefs and the effects that tourism has on them. In the first week, out of six, I engaged in an intensive Thai language course. For four weeks... Read More →

Haley Rivers

That Which Lurks Beneath: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Environmental Studies Major

For nearly two months, I spent close to twenty hours a week canoeing through scenic coves, following the directions of a Garmin GPS to close to 1,500 sampling points predetermined using GIS technology. I was in Lyme, Connecticut continuing a twenty-year-old study on the composition... Read More →

Marge Seguin

Researching Restoration and Researching Research: What My Summer Internship Taught Me, Environmental Studies and Philosophy Major

Understanding the impacts of wetland restoration is an important part of informing this practice. In order to figure out which methods will best improve the ecosystem functions of wetlands, different restoration efforts need to be examined. This summer I helped contribute to this... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Cleveland L1

Session I

12:30pm

Growing & Sharing the Environment with Local and Global Communities

Our panel explores the intersections between growing, sharing, and learning about sustainability through agriculture, gardening, environmental research, and outreach. In Pioneer Valley, New England and abroad, we cultivated connections as researchers, workers, and educators. Leila experienced working for an environmental nonprofit on research and education in Connecticut. Lynn learned about the botanic garden at Mount Holyoke and developed online tools for plant education. Izzy farmed at Book & Plow Farm in Amherst and developed a plan to reduce local food waste. Eleanor helped educate about sustainable agriculture at LIFE Monteverde in Costa Rica. Shannon researched and recommended food system sustainability advancements at Mount Holyoke. Each panel member combined their interest in the environment and sustainability with communications and community outreach, understanding the importance of education to further sustainability initiatives.

Moderators

Timothy Farnham

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies

Speakers

Leila Kouakou

Go With the Flow: Education and Research on the Connecticut River Estuary, Environmental Studies Major

Leila conducted research on submerged aquatic vegetation in the Connecticut River Estuary for the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center of Connecticut Audubon. Revisiting a 20-year-old study in the same area, she collected data on the diversity, density, and distribution of aquatic plants... Read More →

Shannon Paton

Shannon worked in coordination with the Miller Worley Center for the Environment and Mount Holyoke Dining Services as a Campus Food System Sustainability Fellow. She researched and analyzed Mount Holyoke’s current practices to understand its current AASHE Stars Sustainability Ratings... Read More →

Izzy Putnal

Hands in the Dirt: Connecting People and Food on Book & Plow Farm, English Major

Over the summer, Izzy worked on Book & Plow Farm in Amherst, MA. She worked with five other crew members to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers for Amherst College and the larger Amherst community. Working on the farm, she seeded, planted, cared for, harvested, and delivered vegetables... Read More →

Lynn Shen

From Dirt to Grid: Gardening on a College Campus, Environmental Studies Major

Lynn spent the summer at the Botanic Garden of Mount Holyoke College. Under the guidance of the Garden staff, she had hands-on experience with horticulture and plant cultivation. On top of that, she worked with two other interns as a research team to look into the history of the garden... Read More →

Eleanor Stewart

Sustainable Farming at LIFE Monteverde, Environmental Studies Major

Eleanor was a sustainable farming intern at LIFE Monteverde, a coffee farm in Monteverde, Costa Rica. There, she assisted a graduate of the University of Costa Rica in his research project measuring the volume of wood and carbon from Cypress trees, an exotic species, located on the... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Cleveland L3

Session I

12:30pm

Justice for Whom? Advocacy, Defense and Law

To these five panelists, an advocate is someone who supports, advises, defends, and protects the rights of others. Whether by working to obtain green cards for same-sex couples, representing minors in cases of parental abuse, or preventing someone from being evicted from public housing due to a criminal arrest, advocates play a crucial role in helping clients navigate complex administrative and legal systems. This summer, these panelists worked as advocates in different, and often competing, arenas. Their internships ranged from a district attorney’s office to non-profit family law, a public defense organization, an immigration law firm, and refugee resettlement services. Despite their differing positions working within and against various U.S. systems, these panelists learned the importance of representing clients in a way that centers clients' needs, desired outcomes, and complicated notions of ‘justice’.

Moderators

Vanessa Rosa

Assistant Professor of Latina/o Studies, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

Jenna Centofanti

Victim Witness Advocate for the DA of Suffolk County, History and Psychology and Education Major

This summer, I interned for the District Attorney of Suffolk County in the Dorchester District Court. I was assigned to intern with Victim and Witness Advocates (VWAs), whose job is to orient those affected by crimes to the criminal justice system. Thanks to this incredible internship... Read More →

Violet Fortier

Leading the Way on the Path to Citizenship, English Major

Following the election of Donald Trump and the administration’s subsequent immigration restrictions, individuals seeking U.S. citizenship face increasing difficulty when navigating institutions such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and United States Citizenship and Immigration... Read More →

(2) Kirina Gair-Macmichael

Corey Flanders, Psychology & Education

Clinicians’ Perceived Access Barriers to Mental Health Care for LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adults of Color... Read More →

Juliana LaMendola

Advocacy: Refugee Resettlement, Anthropology Major

Out of the 65.6 million displaced men, women and children around the world, less than 1% are resettled. Every person should have the right to a safe life, free from fear of persecution. Advocacy for refugees is necessary, obligatory, and is needed now more than ever before. Through... Read More →

Alondra Reyes

Decriminalizing Poverty: Advancing a Holistic Model of Public Defense Law in the Bronx, Gender Studies and Politics Major

For those living in the overpoliced and underresourced community of the Bronx in New York City, contact with oppressive legal systems is often unavoidable. The Bronx Defenders--a non-profit public defense organization--works to combat this racialized and gendered criminalization of... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Reese 304

Session I

12:30pm

Language Spaces

We explored the different languages of math, nature, humanity, and tinkering. These fascinating experiences encompassed the beauty of fluency, hidden messages, innovation, and the origination of new thought. At the Exploratorium, we engaged in tinkering research and development. In Vietnam, we heard voices of citizens through translation. At New York Parks and Recreation, we listened to nature and sought solutions for climate resiliency. In Alabama, we spoke in numbers, theorems, and patterns. During our internships, we faced language barriers in encountering new vocabulary, forming accurate responses, and engaging with unfamiliar materials. Through support from colleagues, we developed novel skills and adapted to our workplace environment. We completed our internships with a newfound sense of confidence and with a community of languages. This panel will investigate strategies for environmental sustainability, proofs and counterexamples of patterns, ways that language permeates culture, and facilitation of equitable tinkering education.

Moderators

Amy Grillo

Visiting Lecturer in Psychology and Education, Mount holyoke College

Speakers

Miralva Gusmao

Carrying Across, Psychology Major

My internship consisted of editing previously-translated texts from Vietnamese to English. These texts ranged from articles about ancient citadels and old craftsmanship to current, political or travel articles. Each file represented a slice of Vietnamese history and culture and gave... Read More →

Radhika Kashyap

Garden In The Sky, History & Geography Major

This summer I interned at the New York City Parks and Recreation Department for the sustainable facilities division. I researched various emerging technologies that the organization wanted to pilot. I also assisted with grant writing justifications, which helped fund the New York... Read More →

Maria-Luiza Taskova

Math - the Language of Patterns, Computer Science & Math Major

This summer I participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Algebra and Discrete Mathematics at Auburn University, Alabama. The team gathered every day with our advisors to discuss open problems. We studied together and taught each other; we talked about ideas... Read More →

(1) Lila Teenyanoff

Donald Cotter, Critical Social Thought

Tinkering Together: Creating Accessible, Inclusive and Equitable Approaches to Tinkering Education at Makerspaces... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Carr 102

Session I

12:30pm

Rebuilding the Foundation

This summer Anne, Brie, Kate, and Youtee all worked to rebuild foundations in different ways for those in their community. Anne helped people create their own health and wellness programs, rebuilding their bodies, minds, and overall well-being. Brie set up conferences and panels about Afro-Caribbean cultures. She worked to rebuild perceptions about the cultures and reached out to the younger generations through discussions and the arts. Youtee worked with youth and helped break down the negative perceptions of hip-hop music and its connection to violence. Kate created media and marketing campaigns that rebuilt perceptions about men who had been previously incarcerated and addressed the environmental impact of home deconstructions. Rebuilding foundations was not easy, and it took a lot of work and commitment. Yet, by the end of the summer, these four women not only helped rebuild the foundations around them but also rebuilt foundations of themselves.

Moderators

Mara Breen

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

Anne Demosthene

The Wellness Design: Building a Holistic Foundation, Computer Science Major

S.L. Designs is a Parisian street-wear fashion company that aspires to stay current, relevant and fresh. In June 2017 they grew into a lifestyle brand that promotes wellness as an integral part of their mission. Along with accessibility, and technology, wellness is recognized as a... Read More →

Kate Hall

Psychology Major, Experiencing Positive Culture Shock while Working Abroad

I interned this past summer at Cint UK, a data technology and software company in London. Here I worked as a sales analyst, looking over various reports and information in order to help the company get a better handle on their clients. I also designed my own presentations and research... Read More →

Briyana Joseph

By the Community, for the Community, Psychology and Sociology Major

My mission at The Little Haiti Cultural Complex was to present and preserve Afro-Caribbean cultures, while inspiring the next generation of leaders. I worked on rebuilding the foundation in my community by leveraging arts and culture as tools for transformation. The majority of my... Read More →

Youtee Wheagar

B.U.I.L.D, Africana Studies Major

Over the summer, I worked at a hip-hop therapy program in Oakland called Beat, Rhymes, and Life. BRL is committed to eliminating health disparities by partnering with youth and young adults to make mental health services more accessible and useful to diverse populations. Most of the... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Clapp 407

Session I

12:30pm

Rising above the Pipeline: Integrating Research and Practice

Expecting poor academic and social outcomes can have debilitating effects on children and young adults from high-need and at-risk communities across our country. With this new awareness, supporting and reacclimating high-risk children has increasingly become a priority. The first step for helping today’s youth is to recognize the need for integrated, as well as culturally and developmentally appropriate, community supports. Our Lynk experiences enabled us to investigate and pursue new approaches that will enable vulnerable children to gain control over their own lives and resist the cycle of disadvantage. Through each of our Lynk internships, we mentored or conducted research with children and young adults. This provided us insight into the social, emotional, behavioral, and technical strengths and challenges of children and youth from all different communities.

Moderators

Jared Schwartzer

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

Emma Beck

Talia Berkowitz-Regosin

Social-Emotional Learning: Research in the Classroom, Psychology and Education Major

Talia spent her summer as a research assistant in a community-based participatory research partnership between UMass Amherst (Individual Differences in Development Lab) and the Holyoke public schools to support social-emotional interventions. Strengthening the relationship between... Read More →

Kaitlin Braz

Autism and Social Experiences: Embracing Challenges and Celebrating Victories with a Popsicle in One Hand and a Pool Tow, Psychology and Education Major

Social exclusion has been found to have debilitating emotional, physical, and cognitive effects on individuals; for children with mental health conditions, social stigma often causes this type of demoralizing isolation. Through my Lynk internship, I sought to reverse this cycle by... Read More →

Madeline Derentz

Sharing is Caring: Do Children Follow the Golden Rule?, Psychology Major

Child development research continues to grow every day. After working in a social development lab at Boston University, I understood how developmental research impacts this expanding field within psychology. Over the summer, I helped tackle important research questions pertaining... Read More →

Haley Subocz

But What about the, Psychology Major

When children with serious behavioral and emotional difficulties are involved with the court system, they’re often labeled as unfit for society. Generally, these youths face countless barriers to reenter the community. This summer, I worked with a team of interns at a philanthropic... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Clapp 206

Session I

12:30pm

The Art of Effective Communication

What do internships in equestrian lifestyle, the apparel industry, health and wellness, and radical interfaith politics have in common? They all have a united focus on journalism and communications on a local and global scale. This panel seeks to elaborate on the ways in which each intern learned to be proactive self-advocates in a professional setting. Using the interdisciplinary skills learned through a liberal arts education, each intern utilized the power of communication to engage with target audiences and navigate the office environment.

Moderators

Todd Brewster

Visiting Senior Lecturer in English

Speakers

Allegra Dufresne

Whose Job is it Anyway?: Making the Best Out of Unexpected Situations, Critical Social Thought Major

When I stepped into the office of Tikkun, a Berkeley-based radical interfaith magazine, I was greeted with “Welcome! Your supervisor is away all summer and we don’t know what to you with you!”. This presentation will be about how I faced the challenge of training somebody to... Read More →

Emily Holowczak

Equestrian Living Magazine: from Intern to Contributing Writer, English Major

Equestrian Living Magazine, an internationally-published equestrian lifestyle magazine, allowed me the opportunity to combine two of my passions – horses and writing. As an intern, I performed various tasks including transcribing interviews, researching horse show venues, and reaching... Read More →

Adrianna Ke

The Subtle Art of Communication, Economics Major

In this panel, I will be talking about how to maximize the effect of communication by understanding the subtlety of words. Communication is based on common understanding; however, because of individuals' different worldviews, we understand and misunderstand everyday. It is essential... Read More →

Isoke Samuel

Avocados, Crystals, Leggings and the Journey to Finding My Voice In A Lifestyle Publication, English Major and Nexus in Journalism and Media

Well+Good is a premier lifestyle and news publication focused on health and wellness. As an incredibly niche publication, their following consists of loyal readers and fans who are constantly trying to live healthier and happier lives. During my internship at Well+Good, I worked closely... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Kendade 303

Session I

12:30pm

The Common Bond Between Real-World Applications and the Different Disciplines of Chemistry

Our panel is comprised of four chemistry majors doing research in varying disciplines within the field of chemistry in different regions of the United States. All of our projects are rooted in the same chemical system, but the knowledge and the research methods used are purposed for different environments. Our research projects span over a wide spectrum of topics including physical chemistry, computational chemistry, polymer chemistry and biomedical chemistry. During our panel session we hope that we can show diversity in chemical techniques used and the potential and importance for future directions stemming off of our summer research projects.

Moderators

Wei Chen

Marilyn Dawson Sarles, M.D. Professor of Life Sciences and Professor of Chemistry

Speakers

Emily Graham

Hydrogen-Bonded Polyaramid Brush Growth on Silica Surfaces, Chemistry Major

The industry of surface coatings traditionally focuses on attaching polymers to a surface through secondary bonds, but the use of upright covalently-attached polymer brushes opens new doors for the industry. This summer I conducted research in the Boyes Lab at The Colorado School... Read More →

Alexandra Singh

Atmospheric Chemistry: Understanding Aerosol Particles and How They Are Affected by Our Changing Environment, Chemistry Major

Aerosol particles play an important role in Earth’s atmosphere. Clay and mineral dust aerosol particles are of particular interest, and scientists are currently researching these particles to better understand their optical properties. This past summer I conducted research at the... Read More →

Yuan Tian

Effect of Oxygen Vacancy on Proton Binding Site Energies of 12.5% Y-doped BaZrO3, Chemistry & Philosophy Major

The proton conductivity of perovskites makes them a promising material for fuel cells. A recent experimental study suggested that oxygen vacancies caused by doping the perovskite can enhance proton conduction. We considered twenty-three Glazer distortions as well as three previously-optimized... Read More →

(2) Victoria Yan

Kyle Broaders, Biochemistry

Rational design of pro-drug iterations of the small molecule inhibitor HEX for the collateral lethality targeting of ENO1-deleted glioblastoma... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Cleveland L2

Session I

12:30pm

The Justice League: Law, Advocacy, and Public Policy

Peace and progress are built through dialogue. In their internships, members of this panel listened, advocated, bridged divides, and explored policy solutions to problems of injustice, inequality and government inaccessibility. We held internships with PartnersGlobal, the American Foreign Service Association, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the offices of Senators Warren and Gillibrand. In our presentations, each of us will reflect on how our experiences as public service interns supported our development into future change makers. We will address the challenges, frustrations, and feelings of inadequacy associated with careers that require us to reconcile our ideals of peace and progress with what we can practically accomplish, and discuss the innumerable ways in which our summer internships expanded our sense of community and our vision of our future careers.

Moderators

Christopher Mitchell

Assistant Professor of International Relations and Politics

Speakers

Nada Al-Thawr

Impact Beyond Ourselves, Computer Science and International Relations Major

As international students, it’s sometimes difficult to connect the work we do in the US to our homes. Coming from Yemen, I knew that I wanted to contribute to the peacemaking process back home somehow, all the way from D.C. this summer. Interning at PartnersGlobal was the way to... Read More →

Kelly Bentdahl

“I’m an Educator Not a Litigator:” Balancing Enforcement and Teaching in Anti-Discrimination Law, Philosophy Major

The Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination was founded in 1946. Though its jurisdiction has expanded greatly since then, its mission remains the same: to eradicate discrimination in the state of Massachusetts. In pursuit of this goal, the Commission is empowered to enforce... Read More →

Niamh Gronningsater

From the Classroom to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's New York City Office: Fostering a Constituent Rapport, Politics Major

This summer, I had the privilege of working as a Constituent Affairs Intern at the New York City office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Born and raised in New York City, I focused on local politics and contributed ideas which reflected my values as a constituent, woman, and student... Read More →

Maryanne Magnier

International Relations Major

This summer I got the chance to intern at Senator Elizabeth Warren's office in Washington, DC. I attended briefings, wrote memos, communicated with constituents, and more (I got to hear Ben Carson speak!). It was a really cool experience to see the inner workings of a prominent senator's... Read More →

Sofia Elisa Rivera

Superhuman Service and the People Behind Them, International Relations Major

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the professional association and labor union of the United States Foreign Service, recognises and awards the exemplary service of its fellows each year. As the Awards and Outreach intern this past summer, I got to meet and get to know... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Kendade 203

Session I

12:30pm

Youth Empowerment: Breaking Barriers, Building Community

Young people are our future, and education is a fundamental building block to their success. This past summer, each of us worked with nonprofit organizations that focus on advancing educational equity for underserved youth through various modes of learning and empowerment-driven programming. We engaged with young people through structured programs that center on food justice and sustainable community development, college preparedness, disrupting generational poverty through educational activities, and connecting sports leadership to classroom success. Our panel will discuss our varied positions as educators navigating underserved communities while striving to empower young folks to reflect on their lived experiences and take action. We invite you to join us as we talk about the challenges and rewards of being educators and youth workers and how we hope to build on our summer opportunities in the future.

Moderators

Dr. Jennifer Daigle-Matos

Visiting Lecturer in Psychology and Education, Mt. Holyoke College

I teach in the Psychology and Education Department at Mt. Holyoke College, and I offer courses on social justice issues in Education. In the summer, I teach a course for the PaGE (Professional and Graduate Education) program at Mt. Holyoke for students in the Masters Degree progr... Read More →

Speakers

Jenna Hill

Callaloo for the Community: Food Justice, Civic Engagement, and Youth Education, Gender Studies Major

This summer Jenna served as the Bike and School Garden Leader for Groundwork Somerville’s environmental and urban agriculture youth jobs program “the Green Team” for high school youth in Somerville, MA. She was responsible for leading the youth crews in agricultural and environmental... Read More →

Val Montesino

Liz Rose

How Two Summers Changed My Career Path, Art History and Psychology Major

Liz worked with a non-profit called Elm City Internationals in New Haven, Connecticut for the past two summers. Her role as an intern included working one-on-one with the boys, making worksheets for the books the younger cohort read, helping the high school boys write social justice... Read More →

Brandy Williamson

Harlem Children's Zone/The Power of Non-Profit Organizations, Psychology and Education Major

Imagine entering a program at the age of eight years old and then thirteen years later interning for the same program in your own community. This summer Brandy Williamson interned at Harlem Children’s zone, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of generational... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 12:30pm - 1:25pm
Kendade 305

Session I

1:30pm

4 Continents, 33 Countries, 5 Non-Profit Organizations, 1 Lynk

Navigating nonprofits from different organizational perspectives, our summer experiences involved engagement with both local and global missions. While one panel member aided families in the transition from unsafe living conditions to sustainable housing in North Carolina, another panelist in New York provided legal services to LGBTQ and HIV-positive individuals. From Washington DC, our third panelist used digital media to raise awareness about human rights violations in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Our fourth panel member helped create policies that advocate for quality education inclusive to all students in Ghana. Our final panelist in Boston contributed to research to further resettlement efforts for refugees overseas. The non-profit organizations where we worked spanned the globe; the projects we pursued were as diverse as the communities with which we engaged.

Moderators

Alan Bloomgarden

Speakers

Caroline Clowers

The Non-Profit Network: How Organizations Adapt to Meet Community Needs, English Major and Nexus in Journalism and Media

This summer I had the opportunity to complete an internship in non-profit management through an organization called GreeNest. Their mission is to aid individuals and families in their transition from unsafe living conditions into sustainable housing. This was my third internship involving... Read More →

Sara Kamal

The Human Rights Network in a Digital Age, Economics and Statistics Major

Keeping in mind my desire to work with social and education policy post-graduation, I spent my summer interning with a non-profit in D.C. called "Good of All" (GOA). Good of All works to create awareness for human rights violations around the world, using digital media to reach its... Read More →

Schuyler Lamb

Advocacy for Low-Income LGBTQ and HIV+ New Yorkers, Art History Major

The LGBTQ and HIV unit at Brooklyn Legal Services provides free legal services to LGBTQ and HIV+ residents of Brooklyn on problems related to housing, public benefits, immigration, and employment law. Paralegal interns meet with clients, attend community meetings, accompany attorneys... Read More →

Topaz Mukulu

Refugee Protection: Behind the Scenes of a Non-Profit, Economics Major

How do human rights organizations respond to a policy that halts and reverses their efforts? This summer, I interned at RefugePoint, an NGO that identifies and protects the world’s most at-risk refugees. | Working from the headquarters in Cambridge, MA, I conducted refugee-related... Read More →

Kaussar Rahman

The Privatization of Education in Ghana: the Case of Omega School Franchise, Biology Major and Nexus in Educational Policy

During my internship, I worked with the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), a network of civil society organizations that invest in promoting quality basic education for all students. During my time at GNECC, I learned how the privatization of education influences... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Clapp 218

Session II

1:30pm

Bridging the Gap from Journalism to the Arts

In this panel we will explore the various stages of media production ranging from representational media to the logistics of performance. We participated in internships which focused on the production of media from its inception to its final product. As panelists we will share our individual experiences including, but not limited to, evaluating depictions of emerging technologies in media, utilizing media journalism as a tool for social change, casting and covering media from the perspective of Hollywood talent management, and focusing on theatre as both an art form and a business.

Moderators

Noah Tuleja

Lecturer in Theatre Arts; Director of the Rooke Theatre

Speakers

Abigail Carroll

All the World's a Stage, Astronomy and Theatre Major

As an early career actor, getting your foot in the door of a professional theatre and jump-starting your career can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Do you take the time to focus primarily on training? Do you dive right into the audition process? Do you cross your fingers and... Read More →

Claire Morse

Digital Journalism: A Tool for Social Change, Theatre Major

Digital journalism can be an effective tool to promote social change. Not only is it an easily accessible medium with which to represent personal stories accurately, it is an effective tool to share information with other communities and policymakers. This summer Claire worked with... Read More →

(1) Rachel Polfer

Amy Camp, Biochemistry

Considering the Risks and Rewards of Synthetic Biology

Esther Simon

Talent Management: The Hollywood Perspective on Media Production/Coverage, Five College Film Studies and Art History Major

As an intern at a talent management company, Esther was able to get an inside look at how film and television is cast, pitched, and produced. She worked for Silver Lining Entertainment, a relatively new company formed by several seasoned managers and a few new faces in the business... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Clapp 306

Session II

1:30pm

Chasing an Epidemic: Understanding Health Crises from Lab Work to Outreach

Using our experiences from lab settings and qualitative research to public outreach, education, and policy advocacy, we construct our summer experiences as a stream of public health knowledge. Our panel will showcase public health topics such as parasites and HIV while attending to racial disparities and traumatic considerations in our society. The stream begins in a lab research setting, asking: who is most susceptible to parasites? Then we consider: how can we reduce the spread of HIV in rural Maine? Following the flow downstream, we ask: what are the barriers to healthcare in screenings for colorectal cancer in Black Americans? Last, we discuss the ways in which professional advocates and legislators address issues of childhood trauma. Through these stories, you will learn (as we did) the importance of advocating for citizens’ health.

Moderators

Corey Flanders

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

Tess Ahlers

How Host Age Affects Susceptibility to Parasitic Infections, Biology Major

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of parasitic, protozoan, bacterial, and viral infections that are generally found in tropical areas, especially in areas of poverty. Research into these diseases is vital due to their high prevalence. All too often, these diseases receive... Read More →

(2) Abena Bosompem

Patricia Banks, Sociology & Anthropology

Multiple Layers: The Assimilation of First and Second Generation African Immigrants in the United States... Read More →

(2) Emma Dolan

Lynn Morgan, Sociology & Anthropology

Centering C-section Narratives in Birth Discourse: an anthropological exploration

Kate Farmer

The Sun Rises Still: Using Policy Advocacy to Create Brighter Futures for Children Impacted by Trauma, Chemistry Major

Panelist Kate Farmer spent her summer interning with the Alaska Resilience Initiative, a nonprofit responsible for supporting resilience work and statewide responses to adverse childhood experiences. Driven by a dedication to promote healthy futures for children impacted by trauma... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Kendade 305

Session II

1:30pm

Crafting Dynamic and Adaptive Messaging

This panel aims to discuss internship experiences involving dynamic interactions with diverse sectors of the public sphere. This panel includes participants from interdisciplinary fields sharing their experiences working with people of diverse backgrounds to represent the organizations with which we interned: Victoria’s Secret, Gap Inc, Minnesota Children’s Museum, CitySprouts, and the Old North Church. One common challenge was adapting to a spontaneous work environment in which the specific needs of our audience changed daily. Through different individual internships, we each learned the practical value of flexible communication and effective messaging in a working environment. The shared set of skills we developed are applicable to all future academic or professional endeavors.

Moderators

Eleanor Townsley

Sociology

Speakers

Julia Doyle

History Major, Costume Conservation at the Smithsonian

At a museum with over three million objects in its collections, how do you decide what types of preservation services each object needs? As a costume conservation intern at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, I was able to spend my summer experiencing the work of... Read More →

Ariana Sarmiento Fielding

Tale of Twin Cities, Art Studio Major

This summer I was a studio intern at Minnesota Children’s Museum. My role there was to help maintain and develop a new makerspace designed for children. As part of my daily routine, I interacted with visitors of the museum to assist with the use of materials that were available... Read More →

Qianzhen Fu

Navigating between External and Internal Communications, Art History Major

This summer I worked at Gap Inc. Greater China as a communication & localization department intern. For an American retail industry launched in China, the role of communication is critical in driving business performance through localizing fashion taste, engaging employees and promoting... Read More →

Sharon Juerong Jiang

Adapting Messages and Targeting Consumers: nHow Does Public Relations Consultant Work in this Digital Era?, Economics Major and Nexus in Journalism and Media

We are born this digital era -- our lives are fulfilled with internet and social media like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. While traditional media is going down, approaches for PR consultants and marketers to reach target audiences have changed a lot. | In the past... Read More →

Shannon Seigal

Cultivating Plants and Minds, Environmental Studies and Spanish Major

On a planet facing rapidly increasing environmental change and globalization, many children, particularly those who live in cities, are growing up without knowing where their food comes from. Citysprouts aims to educate students about food systems through the development and maintenance... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Cleveland L3

Session II

1:30pm

Culture, Creativity and Collaboration in Visual Media

We as a generation are increasingly becoming a more visual culture and this panel is a prime example of how these trends are dispersed not only throughout cinema but throughout all forms of visual media. We have come together today to display several forms through which visual media has become incorporated into society, through non-profit arts organizations, museums, production agencies and student film programs. Join us as we take you on a journey through the deeply impactful and diverse world of visual media and watch as language, culture and history intersect with modern technology to produce accessible content for public consumption.

Through the mediums of film, photography and advertisement, five individuals take on international ground to explore international micro-cultures. From New York's African film hub to Bollywood, we take you on a journey of issues around freak show ethics, problems of distributing African films, issues surrounding the representation of low-income film producers, sexism within the Bollywood industry, and the utilization of all media forms in France’s fashion and art scene.

Moderators

Robin Blaetz

Chair of Film Studies; Professor of Film Studies, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

Amanda Gomez

Navigating the Freak Show, Five College Film Studies and Spanish Major

Since the ‘freak show’ rose to prominence in the late 16th century, cultures around the world have gathered to interpret the human oddities. Though entertaining, one aspect that has not changed are the ethics which surround these people. My goal this summer was to shed light on... Read More →

Jasmine Keuter

Visual Media and Translation in France's Fashion and Art Scene, Five College Film Studies and Romance Languages Major

France’s fashion, photography, film and art scenes are rich, diverse and unique cultures of practices, trends and products. These sectors of France’s global reputation and economy have become much promoted through the use of visual advances in photography, film and translation... Read More →

Shay Lahon

Youth FX Behind the Scenes: The True, Hidden Powers Behind Minority/Low-Income Film Producers, Biology Major

Over the summer, I interned at a non-profit organization called Youth FX, a hands-on program, based in Albany, New York, that empowers youth (ages 10-24) through the education of digital filmmaking (as well as various, other media productions). Youth FX, historically, strives to liberate... Read More →

Kaatyaayani Pandey

My 'Filmy' Summer, Middle Eastern Studies Major

From wanting a career in diplomacy and politics as a first year at Mount Holyoke to working as a casting agent in the Hindi Film Industry as a rising senior, my journey as a student of the liberal arts has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Now, confident in my convictions... Read More →

Celestelle Webster

Inclusion or Representation?, Five College Film Studies Major

Inclusion or Representation? This question comes up in conversation around film diversity. Here we will talk through the definition of these terms as they function in the film industry and will come to a conclusion on how inclusion and representation cannot exist as two separate entities... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Clapp 206

Session II

1:30pm

Education, Empowerment, and Individuality in Japan

How do we respectfully integrate Japanese and American culture while empowering and educating students? How does one traverse cultural boundaries? How do we successfully bridge the gaps between languages? How can we empower Japanese youth without imposing our western ideologies? This past summer, all four of our panel members interned in Japan and taught in classrooms. Through the examination of our individual experiences, our panel will address English education, women’s empowerment, classroom culture, and cross-cultural experiences. We will share our internship roles and responsibilities while discussing life outside of the classroom, and examine both the challenges and the value of living abroad and teaching in Japan.

Moderators

Amy Grillo

Visiting Lecturer in Psychology and Education, Mount holyoke College

Speakers

Jamesa Allen

Cultures Converge in the Classroom, Sociology Major

This summer I had the opportunity to intern as a Group Leader for the Youth Empowerment Program with GPI US. During my four weeks in Japan I traveled to four schools in different cities all over the country. I got to experience a wide variety of Japanese lifestyles with different... Read More →

Alyssa Jones

At Home in a Foreign Country, English Major

Is it possible to feel at home while living abroad? My summer internship took me to Japan, where I traveled to four different high schools to teach a program that focused on empowerment and the English language. For the duration of this internship, my living situation was one of the... Read More →

Erin Murdock

Women's Empowerment in Japan, Environmental Studies and Gender Studies Major

This summer I interned for GPI US, a company dedicated to Japanese youth empowerment. I spent June and July in Boston before traveling to Japan in August. In Boston, I coordinated youth empowerment programs at local universities. In Japan, I moved to a new city each week where I was... Read More →

Nicole Aline Pelletier

English Education in a Changing World, Art History and East Asian Studies Major

In one of the most technologically-advanced nations in the world -- known especially for its historically extensive involvement with international exportation -- it may be surprising that Japan’s English Language Education (ELE) system does not focus primarily on developing advanced... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Kendade 107

Session II

1:30pm

Empowering Learners to Become Future Leaders

“To teach is to learn twice” - Joseph Joubert

Despite our differing interests, we explored dimensions of entrepreneurship, language acquisition, sustainability and their intersection with the field of education. Through our internships, we connected the theoretical knowledge we have acquired in our Mount Holyoke courses with practical application in unconventional learning environments. The intercultural and technological exchanges in which we participated allowed us to act as stepping stones for the young and old learners we met. A valuable lesson that we all learned from our summers was that even though we were in positions of teaching and coordinating, we were just as much students in our individual experiences.

Moderators

Kirk Lange

Speakers

Fatema Ali Asghar

The Intersectionality of Foreign Languages and Education, International Relations Major

This summer I interned at the International Language Institute of Massachusetts, a private, not-for-profit language school located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Its mission is to promote intercultural understanding by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training... Read More →

Cailin Van Nevel

Change is Simple: Supporting the Environmental Movement through Education, Environmental Studies Major

This summer, I interned at Change is Simple Inc., a small, nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach elementary school-aged children about environmental issues and sustainability. I was able to both work with students and plan and execute curriculum as well as further applications... Read More →

Bernadette Norman

Teaching English Abroad: the Discrepancy of English Education for Migrant Children in China, Romance Languages Major

With the largest population on the planet, China has over 30 million migrant children in its cities. These children’s access to social welfare services such as healthcare and education is significantly limited. This summer I interned at a not-for-profit organization called Stepping... Read More →

Crystal Seo

Computer Science Major

Many people imagine computer science internships as just sitting in front of desks and staring at a screen for hours coding. It seems like it does not require as much interaction with other co-workers and to not share ideas and work collaboratively. However, computer science is indeed... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Reese 304

Session II

1:30pm

Government and Policy across Borders

This panel focuses on internships in government and policy on different levels: state (or provincial), national, international and supranational. Students interned for the United States Congress, the European Parliament, a non-profit international organization, a multi-national business collaborative, and the Fulbright Commission. Our internships examined the different interactions between government and policy and different career possibilities for students with backgrounds in politics and international relations. We each faced challenges in our internships, whether it was being the only woman in a predominantly-male environment, a woman of color in a Belgian firm, or working abroad in a foreign language. We will explore the differences and similarities in our internship’s relationship with government and policy, as well as the challenges we faced in acquiring internships, both at home and abroad. Our students who interned abroad will address their specific challenges in living abroad, while our students who interned domestically will address their specific challenges as well.

Moderators

Sohail Hashmi

Professor of International Relations on the Alumnae Foundation and Professor of Politics

Speakers

Lorena Cacho

Shaping Your Future: Life within an International Organization, International Relations Major

During the summer of 2017 Lorena had the opportunity to intern in Montevideo, Uruguay for the Latin American Integration Association. Being an international relations major whose aspirations are to someday become a lawyer and work with human rights in the UN, she thought that working... Read More →

Sarah McCool

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Revolution, International Relations Major

During this panel, Sarah will discuss her internship at the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, a Boston-based nonprofit that aims to train, recruit, and elect women candidates for office across the state. Sarah spent her summer researching and writing the 40-year, complete... Read More →

Upasana Sharma

Policy Making at International Institutions: Fulbright Commission, International Relations Major

Upasana’s presentation will focus on her experience at the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, Belgium as an Educational Advising Intern during the summer of 2017. She will focus on three main aspects of working at the Fulbright: international diplomacy, policy making and education-based... Read More →

Anna Shortridge

International Politics on Capitol Hill: from the Senate to the House, Politics Major

As a student studying international politics, I had the treat of splitting my summer between two internships on Capitol Hill: one with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the other with the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. I watched... Read More →

Echo Wang

Europe as a Cross-Border Democracy, International Relations & French Major

This presentation will focus on how the democratic institutions of the European Union function and how they embody the idea of democracy. Through her eight-week internship at the European Parliament, Echo familiarized herself with the structure of the Parliament and various public... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Kendade 303

Session II

1:30pm

Imperfect Internships: It’s Not the End!

Everyone dreams of finding the perfect internship, but what happens if you don’t? Internships can bring challenges at every stage, and this panel wants to help you be prepared for these potential pitfalls. This summer, these five panelists worked in internships across a wide variety of fields, including think tanks, arts non-profit organizations, NGO’s, academia, and Wall Street. Come hear about some of the hurdles that can arise throughout summer internships -- and how to overcome them. Topics will include navigating difficult work environments, taking initiative, and making the most of your internship to create a solid springboard for the future.

Moderators

Steven Schmeiser

Associate Professor of Economics

Speakers

Sarjana Jaiswal

Trial and Error: Finding Your Calling Through Fearless Exploration, Economics and Nexus in Global Business Major

This summer started out a little bumpy, as I struggled with an internship and organization that I was excited about but was not learning enough in. The chasm between my vision for the summer and the reality was growing wider when I stumbled upon an opportunity at the Indian Council... Read More →

Hana Kiros

The Walls That Surround Us: an NGO Experience in Cambodia, Economics Major

In a developing country, such as Cambodia, the poor live on the doorsteps of those who have it all. In an attempt to fix this financial disparity and improve income generation, several microfinance NGOs have gathered to provide financial literacy and help with loan management among... Read More →

Kannah Landford

When Life Gives You Lemons Make It Count, Economics Major and Nexus in Global Business

This summer I had the opportunity to work on Wall Street, but I have no finance background. You do not need a degree in finance to work on Wall Street, but it will help you. Throughout the summer I faced a few bumps in the road because I lacked confidence. I was surrounded by Ivy... Read More →

Olivia Solomon

Staying Confident When Facing Confusion, Anthropology Major

Conflict resolution is a critical skill that is needed both in conflicts across the globe and in our daily work lives. This summer, I worked at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, helping a group of professors there to develop... Read More →

Frieda Yeung

David Sanford, Music

Music, Time, and Trauma

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Clapp 407

Session II

1:30pm

Navigating Diverse Business Environments through a Liberal Arts Lens

Our panel brings together our collective reflection on how our liberal arts background shaped our experiences this summer, specifically in organizations with a business focus. We will be discussing the work environment, culture, size, roles, and responsibilities among other key factors that heavily influenced the start-ups, consulting, and law firms in which we worked. Our internships drew upon the skills we have honed as Mount Holyoke students including problem-solving, adaptability, creativity, and much more. Coming from diverse academic backgrounds, we each bring a unique perspective to our panels. At the core of our personal narratives, we hope to share stories of our personal and professional growth, as well as provide advice for students who are considering pursuing internships in business fields.

Moderators

Rick Feldman

Lecturer in Economics; Entrepreneurship, Organizations and Society; Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Mount Holyoke College

Entrepreneur and social business entrepreneur; business as well as NGO CEO and Board member; worked closely with Valley Venture Mentors for 7 years; currently faculty member at Mount Holyoke College teaching and helping students to enjoy and prosper with entrepreneurship and social... Read More →

Speakers

Shruti Khullar

Importance of a Liberal Arts Education in Big Business, Economics Major

As a capital markets communications intern in one of the largest business advisory companies worldwide, FTI Consulting, I learned quite a lot about investor relations: consulting, my primarily role, as well as related fields of corporate finance, corporate reputation, digital communications... Read More →

Alessandra Massa

How a Liberal Arts Education Prepared Me for Finance, Politics & Russian Studies Major

As a politics and Russian studies double major, I embarked on a daunting task this past summer. Sparked by my interests in the markets, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and into the world of wealth management. Working as a capital raising and marketing intern for a boutique... Read More →

Xinyi Zhao

Exploring Marketing in a Law Firm, German Studies & Philosophy Major

Why does a law firm needs a business development department which focuses on marketing? My summer internship in one of the biggest law firms in China may provide an answer to this question. Working as a marketing intern in King & Wood Mallesons, my experience offers a different perspective... Read More →

Anna Zheng

Connecting the Classroom and Campus Experience to Consulting, English Major

What does it take to grow a business? How can a liberal arts education background add a valuable perspective to consulting? How can consultants play a role in creating social change and impact? This summer I went behind the scenes as an intern for The Azara Group, a leadership and... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Cleveland L2

Session II

1:30pm

Scaling Development Policy of Sub-Saharan Africa: Local to Global Perspectives

Within the breadth of policy-making, development, and education, Sub-Saharan Africa offers a vast range of opportunities. The members of this panel dispersed their interests and skills among the fields of community engagement, local and international government work, and scholarly research, thus assessing Sub-Saharan Africa from within its many socio-political environments. These panelists challenged their knowledge of what it means to: explore the differences of education systems in Ghana, build peace after war from locals and NGOs in Liberia, develop sustainable business environments through policy research with the Ghanaian government, practice diplomacy at the United Nations, and develop economic data on health and education for numerous African states. As they come together in the panel, "Scaling Development Policy of Sub-Saharan Africa: Local to Global Perspectives," Donari, Javeria, Rhema, Edith, and Sabah invite you to explore how the conventional notions of development were challenged during their internships and share in their experiences that incite cross-cultural discussion.

Moderators

Girma Kebbede

Professor of Geography

Speakers

Edith Amoafoa-Smart

A Summer at the UN: Lessons in Diplomacy & International Policy Creation, French and International Relations Major

This summer, I was a participant and primary witness to the upscaling and downscaling processes involved in the formation of international law and policy, and to the impact of the practice of diplomacy on domestic policy creation. Interning with the United Nations through the Permanent... Read More →

Rhema Ewurama Andah

The Space Where the Ghanaian Courts Meets Development, International Relations Major

Ghana’s economy is expanding rapidly. There has been an influx of international organizations and corporations into the country. For some, doing business in Ghana has been a wonderful experience; however, for others, it has been a tiring and dreadful experience. As a result of this... Read More →

Javeria Kella

Beyond Textbook Theories: Peacebuilding in Post-Conflict Liberia, International Relations & Geography Major

The dialogue on war and peace has existed throughout time. Historically, textbooks have conceptualized post-conflict states as inadequate entities, and peace has been glamorized and associated with the civilized men. Today, we associate these civilized men with international institutions... Read More →

Sabah Majid Lotia

Health and Economics: a New Approach to Health Policy, Economics Major

In today’s world, some of the greatest health policy challenges are economic in nature. Whether they are global, community or individual-level healthcare systems, such macroeconomic and microeconomic fundamentals affect our lives on a daily basis. As a result, making efficient policy... Read More →

Donari Yahzid

Reconceptualizing Education in Ghana: How Acquiring Knowledge Builds a National Identity, Anthropology and Politics Major

Throughout time, people have grown to conceptualize a “proper” education through the rigid constraints of formalized institutions. We often neglect the knowledge gained without a degree for scholarly evidence and reputable sources. But what of those who cannot afford a formal... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Cleveland L1

Session II

1:30pm

Striving for Social Betterment: Behind the Scenes of Non-Profit Organizations

The purpose of “non-profit organizations,” as the term itself suggests, is not to distribute excess revenue to their members but to advocate for various social causes. The five members of this panel worked at both domestic and international non-profit organizations over the summer with wide-ranging missions. They applied different skillsets in their respective roles for these organizations, many of which were informed by their Mount Holyoke education. Each panelist will discuss not only their internship experiences, but also their insights about working in a humanitarian field while dealing with the unique challenges behind the scenes.

Moderators

Timothy Farnham

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies

Speakers

Claire Beckett

Challenges of an Ethical Life: Research in Global Labor Practices and Supply Chains, French and Politics Major

How does one begin to combat the wide-ranging labor rights abuses that occur worldwide? As our world economy becomes increasingly global, so too do the labor rights issues inextricably linked to it. Is it possible to work alongside multinational corporations in the fight against these... Read More →

Hoai Thu Dang

A Summer as Development Intern at Frances Perkins Center, Economics Major

Frances Perkins Center commits itself not only to the preservation of our first female Cabinet member’s history, but also to the betterment of the society through various programs that recognize and encourage various members of the community to dedicate their effort towards public... Read More →

Trang Thu Hoang

Human Library Vietnam: Eradicating Social Prejudices through Open Dialogues, Psychology Major, English Minor

Coming to the unique “library” full of human “books” at one of the Human Library project’s events is a chance to tear down your preconceptions about a person’s identity, be it their gender, sexual orientation, appearance, disability, occupation or lifestyle. This summer... Read More →

Anima Shrestha

Preserving the Legacy of Frances Perkins and Promoting Social Betterment, Politics Major

The Frances Perkins Center in Maine has two important goals. One is to preserve the legacy of a woman who changed the social fabric of America, and another to recognize those who have improved the lives of others through their work in government and other NGOs. My education at Mount... Read More →

Anran Wang

Political Ecology in Action: Takeaways from Working at WWF China, Economics and Environmental Studies Major

Anran’s summer internship at WWF China became a hub of synergies. Professionally, the international NGO platform enabled her to build ongoing relationships with groups of dedicated professionals working across various sectors, and to participate in over-arching discussions in Beijing... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Reese 316

Session II

1:30pm

The Past, Present, and Future of the LGBTQ Community around the Globe

This summer, panelists Eisha Khan, Michelle Arque, Lindsay Theobald, and Allison Elliott had one common mission and that was activism within the LGBTQ community. Having worked at Audre Lorde Project, Michelle worked on the present and future of people of color within the LGBTQ community. On the other hand, having worked at the Lesbian Herstory Archive, Lindsay gained a rich background in the history of the lesbian community. Moreover, Allison also worked for Herstory, but she worked in a different department and gained a completely different experience. As for Eisha, she worked with the Transgender Initiative Office in Karachi where she developed an understanding of the the history of violence against the transgender community, their current standing within Pakistan, and what can be done for them. The range of experiences the panelists have gives one an idea of how activism is not a limited field - there is so much that can be done.

Moderators

Timothy Malacarne

Visiting Assistant Professor of Data Science

Speakers

Allison Elliott

Archival Processes, Gender Studies and Politics Major

Over the summer, I did an internship at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, New York. My responsibilities at the archives were to organize and categorize the large banner collection consisting of materials gathered from political protests and/or marches from the mid-to-late-twentieth... Read More →

Eisha Khan

Venturing into the World of Social Entrepreneurship, Math Major

Over the summer, Eisha ventured into researching her socially-driven for-profit business model, which is a restaurant. The social aspect of the business is that Eisha wants to create opportunities of employment for the marginalized transgender community in Pakistan. At large, her... Read More →

Michelle Araque Pérez

Audre Lorde Project, Critical Social Thought Major

This summer, Michelle interned at the Audre Lorde Project (ALP), whose offices are located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York and was founded in 1994. ALP is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, transgender and gender non-conforming people of color community-organizing center, which... Read More →

Lindsay Theobald

A Global View of Lesbian Material, English Major

For the summer, Lindsay worked at the Lesbian Herstory Archive in Brooklyn, New York. As a community-based volunteer archive, the organization has made its mission the preservation of the herstory of the lesbian community and in doing so has amassed the largest collection of lesbian... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Carr 102

Session II

1:30pm

The Times it is A-changin': The New Face of Journalism in the Digital Age

It’s safe to say that the nature of journalism is undergoing change. In the digital age, for some newspapers and magazines, this means a constant struggle to keep up with the immediacy of the internet. This summer, each of us experienced working at publications with one foot in the past and one foot in the future. Many are struggling stay afloat with the loss of advertising and subscription revenue while remaining relevant in a world where news is increasingly consumed through listicles and live-tweets. With limited resources, publications now expect writers to be the “six-in-one journalist”—photographer, social media guru, videographer, web manager, editor, and reporter— all while fact-checking and delivering top quality and ethical work. In each of our internships, we learned how to adapt to these changes as multi-faceted journalists across small-town, niche, big-city, and regional publications.

Moderators

Todd Brewster

Visiting Senior Lecturer in English

Speakers

Sana Hasan

Journalism In Pakistan: Cultural Reporting from Karachi, Psychology Major

This summer I interned at a monthly English current affairs and political magazine in Karachi, Pakistan. My tasks included reporting on cultural events around the city. I wrote a minimum of four articles for each issue, for four issues, as well as managed content for the magazine... Read More →

Rebecca Mullen

What They Don't Teach in Journalism Class, Critical Social Thought Major

Last summer, I worked as an news reporting intern at the Daily Hampshire Gazette, a regional paper based in Northampton, Massachusetts. Going into the internship, I wanted to learn about the journalism industry and improve my writing and reporting skills. Over the course of my summer... Read More →

Eileen O'Grady

Challenging Times: the Small Town Weekly in a 24/7 News World, Politics & French Major

Panelist Eileen O’Grady spent her summer multitasking. As an editorial intern for the Stowe Reporter LLC and based at the Shelburne News in Shelburne, Vt., O’Grady’s responsibilities included researching topics, conducting interviews with everyone from the town manager to the... Read More →

Madeline Skrak

Finding my Niche at The Chronicle, Spanish Major

Why would readers seek print news about a competition that was hot on Twitter a week ago? The Chronicle of the Horse magazine in Middleburg, Virginia has jumped through modern obstacles in order to transition into the internet’s landscape of immediacy. This weekly magazine, traditionally... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 1:30pm - 2:25pm
Kendade 203

Session II

2:45pm

Dialogues within Our Community: Updating our Connections

Whether it comes in the form of a tweet, a YouTube video, or a demonstration to the public, communication is vital for making meaningful connections. Over the summer, our panelists worked in a variety of fields; they developed social media visibility for a private American Sign Language school, worked to increase campus involvement in the botanic garden at Mount Holyoke, helped to plan and oversee a camp for children that focused on teaching peaceful solutions to everyday problems, and worked in a living history museum. Each internship position had diverse needs and challenges, with one common goal: expanding the method and means of communication. This panel will explore the ways in which the panelists worked towards this goal and the field-specific challenges they each faced along the way.

Moderators

KC Haydon

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

Melissa Curran

Environmental Studies Major, Environmental Advocacy in the National Parks

The National Parks Service was created to preserve some of our nation’s most unique landscapes, for the health of the environment, and for public recreation. My internship this summer was at Prince William Forest Park in Virginia, and included fieldwork to preserve the area, as... Read More →

Martha King-Devine

Expanding the Online Presence for an ASL School, Psychology Major

Martha had the pleasure of interning with SIGNING Basics, a private American Sign Language school in Springfield, MA. This work allowed Martha to develop and expand her ASL skills, as was expected; but there was much more, beyond this, to be gained. Martha researched various aspects... Read More →

Kate Ouimette

Eat Your Vegetables: Cultivating a Connection to History, History Major

Why should we care about 19th-century squash varieties or plants that are considered roadside weeds today? Cultivating a person's interest in this kind of history can be a daunting task, but drawing connections to the past can help us understand the contexts in which our current society... Read More →

Mairead Rose Tuttle

Promoting Peace and Justice, Economics and French Major

Issues concerning peace and justice exist all over the world. This summer, I had the opportunity to work with an organization that promotes education about these issues in northeastern Pennsylvania. Throughout my time with the Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice, I had... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Kendade 305

Session III

2:45pm

Dipping Your Feet in Familiar and Foreign Waters: Gaining Transferable Skills Near and Far from Home

Taking positions either abroad or back home domestically, our respective internships called us to evaluate the needs of our workplaces without compromising our individual learning expectations. Navigating new and familiar environments, our panel gained new appreciation for the places in which we found ourselves learning. We came to new workplaces with fresh eyes and enriched our perspectives using previously-acquired skills learned at Mount Holyoke. Whether it was translating marketing publications in the French countryside, assisting the senior site director in resolving critical and delicate situations in the Eternal City, supporting the international office of a major Italian university, or conducting research in a psychology lab in Eastern Massachusetts, we all gained transferable skills that will contribute to our remaining time at Mount Holyoke and to our future careers. Although working with a wide range of academic interests and internships, as interns, we found commonalities in the ways that we adjusted to our work placements and acquired knowledge that transcends specific fields or locations.

Moderators

Jeremy King

Professor of History

Speakers

Claudia Espinosa

The Venetian Job: Can Productivity and Serenity Coexist?, Romance Languages Major

Interning for the international office of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice offered insight to the ways in which an office job in Italy differs from one in the United States. My summer experience deepened my understanding of Italian culture and caused me to question preconceived... Read More →

Marianna Maddock

When in Rome..., Economics Major and Nexus in Global Business

This summer I interned with CISabroad at their Italian headquarters location in Rome as the Senior Site Director Assistant. CISabroad is an international education organization whose mission is that of cultivating engaged world citizens and is committed to providing the best overall... Read More →

(3) Elise Newcomer

Daniel Czitrom, History

The Evolution of Mount Holyoke's Dining Hall: SuperBlanch, how did we get here?

(3) Suzanne Rose

William Davis, Psychology & Education

Female Athletes and Non-Athletes in the U.S. and Japan: Exploring Social Support, Motivation and Well-Being... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Cleveland L1

Session III

2:45pm

Dirty, Poor, and Proud: Exploring Opportunities for the MHC Afterlife

Many key scientific findings start with smaller, less visible projects. Working in these jobs requires motivation, passion and an understanding of how daily responsibilities translate to the bigger picture. From the Baltic sea to local flora, the four panelists discovered value in the “less glamorous” side of scientific research. Students interned with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the National Audubon’s Project Puffin in Maine, the Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, and the University of Rostock’s Marine Science Center in Germany. Waist-deep in Wisconsin swamps, splattered in bird droppings, caked in soil, and constantly reeking of dead fish, the panelists contributed to broader advances in biology and environmental science that went beyond their individual internships. The students explore how their experiences heightened their understandings of fieldwork and provided insight into possibilities and passions after graduation.

Moderators

Patricia Brennan

Visiting Lecturer in Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College

I am a biologist.

Speakers

(3) Muyuan Li

Karen Remmler, German Studies

The Clash of Images: Orientalism, Film and Chinese Communists in Weimar Germany

(5) Anna Rzchowski

Timothy Farnham, Environmental Studies

Exploring Drivers of Human-Elephant Conflict in Tanzania

Illianna Termuehlen

The Simple Life: Conservation on a Seabird Island, Environmental Studies Major

I packed my belongings into two duffel bags and drove off to Stratton Island. My home would be a single-person tent. I was warned that my neighbors would dive bomb my head and destroy my clothes with their acidic feces. I would be working for Project Puffin, a conservation effort... Read More →

Zhuoran Yu

A Peaceful Mind in the Botanic Garden, Environmental Studies Major

Put your hands in the soil and you can feel the natural energy from the Earth. Zhuoran had a wonderful time exploring plants as well as finding a peaceful mind in Summer 2017 during her internship at the Mount Holyoke Botanic Garden. From pulling weeds to maintain the tidiness of... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Kendade 203

Session III

2:45pm

Expanding Never Fear/Change Beyond Mount Holyoke College

The Mount Holyoke community has continued to instill in its students a sense of openness and willingness to change once beyond the college gates. The five members of the panel, Kim, Sam, Natalie, Sarah, and Melissa, share how they expanded their "Never Fear / Change" mentality as upperclassmen working across the globe in Florence, Italy; Barkhamsted, Connecticut; Washington, DC; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Cebu, Philippines. Sam and Kimberly managed essential core event logistics in different settings. Natalie and Sarah inspired young students to explore their potential in academics. Melissa acquired new climate perspectives and expanded her knowledge about the federal workplace. The five panelists learned that adapting to their work environments was the best way to make the most out of their summer experiences.

Moderators

Rachel Alldis

Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residential Life, Mount Holyoke College

I am open to all conversations.

Speakers

Sarah Angela N. Almaden

Smiles from Thousands of Miles, Psychology Major

"Nasa kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan."- Jose Rizal | Sarah spent most of her summer in the Philippines as an intern at Ibo Elementary School. Having her internship split into two parts, Sarah was a teaching assistant to both Mrs. Normandia, a 5th grade teacher, as well as Mrs... Read More →

Kim Foreiter

Discovering My Inner Resiliant Italiana, Psychology and Education Major

Summer 2017 for Kimberly meant regaining a connection to the land her Argentinean refugee grandparents fled fascism from during World War II. Kimberly worked as a staff member for CISabroad's site in Firenze, Italia. Her work entailed: organizing and executing logistical tasks for... Read More →

Melissa Perez

Readjustment in Public Service Goals, International Relations Major

Melissa completed her summer internship in Washington, DC as a legislative intern. Due to her interest in public service, Melissa applied in the hopes of finding reinvigorating legislative work as an intern on Capitol Hill. Her daily tasks included answering constituent calls, running... Read More →

Sam Tressy

What Did You Do This Summer?: Preparing for Summer Camp, Psychology and Education Major

Summer camp is an integral, formative part of many peoples’ childhood. Summer camp has the potential to help children grow and learn. There is a lot that must happen before the children arrive to ensure the best possible experience for each and every one of them. I spent the beginning... Read More →

Natalie Truong

Programming Should be Fun, Computer Science Major

Thinking that coding is a privilege that she has received from her US education, Natalie came back to her home country, Vietnam, to inspire young coders to learn, play and explore the beauty of computer programming.

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Clapp 206

Session III

2:45pm

Hot and Cold History: Discovering the Past through Archaeology and Museums

History is nothing more than the discovery and interpretation of stories. Though each of us experienced different outlets of history, our internships all explored how history is made and how it is experienced today. Two panel members worked on archaeological digs, which are notoriously hot locations in the literal sense, as well as thought-of sites of groundbreaking discoveries. The other two members worked in museums, which are cold for the sake of the artifacts and assumed to be static keepers of the past. Our panelists explore the truths and misconceptions behind these stereotypes as they discuss how to tell tales from long ago.

Moderators

Geoffrey Sumi

Professor of Classics

Speakers

Alexandra Brennan

The Future of the Past, Ancient Studies and Religion Major

How do museums balance the need for preservation and innovation? How can museums educate new visitors and get those visitors to come back more than once? How can historic sites function as both a community event space and a museum? This summer, I had the opportunity to work as an... Read More →

Xinyi Hu

Bringing the Past to the Present: Archaeological Fieldwork in Idalion, History & Psychology Major

How does archaeology help us learn about the past? What does the life of an archaeologist look like? This summer, I dug in Lycoming College Expedition to Idalion, an archaeological project excavating an ancient city kingdom in Dhali, Cyprus. I participated in the whole digging process... Read More →

Robin Pegau

The Elders Were Wild: Research and Organization at a Small Town's Museum and Library, Sociology and Computer Science Major

What makes a community? What can the past tell us about our present? While working within my home town of Cordova, Alaska’s museum and library, I found myself in the lifeblood of my community, working with both the past and the present. While I helped create museum exhibits, did... Read More →

Margaret Randall-Neppl

How Do We Know? Producing Historical Knowledge through Archeology, Anthropology and Latin Major

A theory is only good for as long as it takes to be refuted by a new discovery. This is true for archaeology as much as for any other science. While working at the Villa del Virgigno Archaeological Project in Montelupo, Italy this summer, I was able to witness firsthand as a variety... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Clapp 306

Session III

2:45pm

Media Production across Formats

In this panel, we explore different and new ways to produce media content, whether through social media, music festivals, advertisements, or entertainment. Through our professional experiences in media production this past summer, we gained knowledge about the industries we want to pursue after graduation. We’ve learned that acquiring an internship in media is certainly challenging and can be about chance, connections, or simply being persistent. One panel member worked as a lighting intern for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn music festival; one member was a production intern for WKYU PBS and its television program, Lost River Sessions; another member was a social media intern at National Geographic and a creative intern at a budding socialist think tank, and one panelist was a video production intern at Emporia Entertainment. Each member of our panel had unique experiences working in male-dominated creative industries and applied their knowledge from Mount Holyoke coursework and leadership to navigate their responsibilities.

Moderators

Robin Blaetz

Chair of Film Studies; Professor of Film Studies, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

Elizabeth Gottshall

Building an Entertainment Empire in New York City, Art Studio & Computer Science Major

Elizabeth’s life went to new heights as she left her small hometown in Georgia for the Big Apple this summer. She joined Emporia Entertainment, a production company that does everything from photoshoots to commercials to radio and more. Elizabeth was a video production intern with... Read More →

Roberta Green

Multidisciplinary Digital Media, Five College Film Studies and Politics Major

In a world where most people under 30 rely on social media for daily informative news, those who manage media have a lot of control over what people think and how they understand information. Throughout Roberta’s summer, she experienced a vast array of techniques used in media production... Read More →

(2) Chloe Harkins

Robin Blaetz, Film Studies

Developments in Audience Interaction In Teen Television, 2007 - Present

Isabella Olgaard

A Summer of 25 Concerts and a Great Deal of Experience Gained, Art Studio & Five College Film Studies Major

Aren’t you supposed to have fun in the summer? This summer I did exactly that. I worked for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, a summer-long music festival run by a non-profit in Brooklyn, New York, as a lighting production intern. One of my favorite parts of my day included running the follow... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Clapp 218

Session III

2:45pm

Outreach: Taking your internship to the community

What links an East Coast city to a rural village in Swaziland? The fundamental human needs to have a voice, beauty, and sustenance in their life. We spent our summer reaching within communities and experiencing first-hand the impact different types of outreach programs had on those in need. Our work ranged from giving a voice and direct aid to LGBTQ prisoners, assisting the Boston Celtics in implementing hundreds of outreach programs and events, providing space for personal and professional growth, including skill building and self-sufficiency, and bringing water and basic health resources to rural communities. While we each had different summer experiences, we were motivated to do outreach work not only to help the community but to determine whether we wanted to pursue a career path in these fields. Did working in these fields meet our expectations of potential future career paths? Join us as we share our stories.

Moderators

Timothy Malacarne

Visiting Assistant Professor of Data Science

Speakers

Sarah Byrne

Psychology Major

Emily M. Conley

Diversifying Community Programs in a Brooklyn Church with a Radical Viewpoint, Environmental Studies Major

I spent this summer as an Assistant Program Coordinator at the Park Church Co-op in Brooklyn, New York. My primary responsibility was to do research and set up contacts for larger projects the Co-op wanted to pursue. I focused on establishing the church as a part of the Sanctuary... Read More →

Daiana Griffith

Nonprofit Organizing: Advocating for Prisoners' Rights, Politics Major

Through Lynk, this summer I had the opportunity to work with Black and Pink, which is a non-profit organization that works with incarcerated LGBTQ and HIV+ people on a national level through advocacy, direct service, education, and organizing. At this internship, I was in charge of... Read More →

Deyscha Smith

Off the Court: Social Change and Community Outreach with the Boston Celtics, Sociology Major

Professional sports organizations have a huge platform to service the community and insinuate social change. This summer, I interned with the Boston Celtics and got to experience first-hand how their Community Engagement department provided impactful programs, opportunities and events... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Carr 102

Session III

2:45pm

Race, Culture, and Politics: Disrupting Westernized Teaching Practices

“Eurocentrism is quite simply the colonizer’s model of the world.” - J.M. Blaut

In this panel, the discussions will center around defining and critiquing Western standards of teaching and the interns’ interactions with paradigms conforming to and challenging these standards. Chelsea Reid worked at The Renaissance Charter School in New York City, revising a curriculum that uses history as a lens to examine the Black Lives Matter movement. Wendy Williams partnered with The Cheerful Heart Foundation in Kasoa, Ghana to teach English to children trafficked into the fishing Industry. Autumn Welch taught English and conducted research in La Plata, Argentina at Home Intercultural Learning Center, seeing how a curriculum that challenged a Eurocentric viewpoint was put into practice.

Moderators

Amber Douglas

Associate Professor of Psychology and Education; Dean of Studies; Director of Student Success Initiatives

Speakers

Chelsea Reid

1700's - Present: Black Lives Matter Practicum, Africana Studies Major

Chelsea Reid spent the summer working at the Renaissance Charter School in New York, developing and editing a a high school curriculum that contextualizes the Black Lives Matter Movement within U.S. history.

Autumn Welch

Intercultural Learning in Argentina: a Developing Model of Teaching, Art Studio & East Asian Studies Major

Autumn Welch worked as a teaching and research intern at Home Intercultural Learning Center in La Plata, Argentina. She taught students of all ages conversational and business English through an interdisciplinary approach that aimed to give a multicultural perspective. She also conducted... Read More →

Wendy Williams

Mind Shift: Leaving Western Teaching Practices and Flowing in Spontaneity, Music Major

Wendy Williams partnered with the Cheerful Hearts Foundation in their efforts to stop child trafficking within the fishing villages of Ghana, West Africa. She taught English to 4th, 5th and 6th graders at the Franklin Memorial Institute in Kasoa, Ghana. She will be speaking at the... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Cleveland L2

Session III

2:45pm

Research in the Mind and Body: Interdisciplinary Psychological Perspectives

Psychology encompasses many disciplines and spans a broad range of topics, including physiology, trauma, animal behavior, cognition and sleep. In our respective fields, we were brought into diverse environments – science museums, academic labs, and clinical settings – which enabled us to re-examine our expectations about psychological research. Our internships were particularly valuable in allowing us to apply our research to practical contexts. Be it investigating novel therapeutic interventions, destigmatizing anomalous experiences, or increasing the accessibility of science, our research forced us to branch beyond the ivory tower and work to ensure that our findings had real-life implications for the relevant communities. The collaborative relationships we built with our faculty supervisors and mentors helped us dive deeper into our experiences and reflect on our future goals, either through continuing with our research or pursuing new directions.

Moderators

Mara Breen

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

Lucy Bolognese

The Seuss Perspective: Can Horses Synch to a Beat? I Don't Know, It's Quite a Feat!, Psychology Major

“And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)” This line from Dr. Seuss’ "Oh, the Places You’ll Go!" perfectly describes my summer as a research intern under Professor Mara Breen in the psychology department at Mount Holyoke College. In Professor... Read More →

(4) Alison Branitsky

Gail Hornstein, Psychology & Education

Is This Really Me? How Receiving a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Shapes Identity and Self-Esteem

(1) Deborah Fashole-Luke

Corey Flanders, Psychology & Education

International Student Experiences: Examining Acculturative Stress, Depression, Academic Success, Belonging, & Authenticity... Read More →

Robin Graney

Nightmares and Daydreams: A Thematic Investigation of Sleep Paralysis, Neuroscience Major

This past summer in Ireland, Robin assisted in data analysis in a study investigating common images and experiences in people’s most vivid episodes of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is caused when the brain remains in a REM state as the body wakes. This momentarily traps a person... Read More →

Corrin Moss

Hands-on Psychology: Working and Learning in a Science Museum, Psychology and Spanish Major

This summer I did psycholinguistics research and educational outreach at a science museum (COSI) through the Ohio State University. I developed research, personal, and professional skills, and now have a better sense of my future goals. I recruited subjects for my study by approaching... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Reese 304

Session III

2:45pm

Science, a Universal Language: Exploring Research Opportunities Globally and Locally

Science is a universal language. From Switzerland to New Zealand and right at home in South Hadley, we conducted research in various laboratory programs. Through our unique experiences, we have explored new models for the universe with physics, studied mating behavior in rats, investigated drug addiction paradigms, and sought a possible drug therapy through nanoparticle formation mechanisms. Whether it was adapting to a new country or digging deeper into Mount Holyoke’s resources, we collectively faced challenges and strived to overcome them with confidence grounded in our Mount Holyoke foundation.

Moderators

Joshua Qualls

Visiting Lecturer in Physics

Speakers

Sarah Andoh

Physical Chemistry on a Small Scale: Characterizing Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Chemistry Major

As the field of nanotechnology grows, it proves a possible gateway to diverse applications ranging from targeted cancer drug therapy to micro data storage. More questions arise as to modifications of their synthesis on large and small scales, assembly, and crystal formation. This... Read More →

Christina Elder

Addictive Behaviors: Where Do They Stem from?, Neuroscience Major

Currently, the number of people who suffer from a substance abuse problem is increasing throughout our world. Studying the effects of these drugs on our brain and behavior is a relevant and urgent area of research for our generation. After taking a class at Mount Holyoke that outlined... Read More →

Ledia Gebremedhin

It’s a Rat Race!: Tracking and Studying Mating Patterns of Male and Female Rats, Biology Major

This summer I had remarkable opportunity to work as a research assistant in Professor Sarah Bacon's lab at Mount Holyoke College. My internship at experience has taught me more than I thought and helped me to expand new skills to add to my “biology tool kit”. My summer research... Read More →

Shion Kubota

Click of Physics, Computer Science & Physics Major

There is beauty in how the existing pieces of knowledge of physics fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. I had an opportunity to work at CERN in Switzerland as a visiting scientist and explore that beauty. At CERN, a crucial piece of the puzzle called the Higgs Boson finally filled a... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Cleveland L3

Session III

2:45pm

Small Companies, Big Dreams: Advancing Business with Unstructured Success

This panel will dissect the experiences of five Mount Holyoke students and how they navigated the complex environments of small businesses. They worked as marketing interns at diverse companies ranging from technology and healthcare to software startups, a design firm, and a non-profit school. The students implemented the knowledge acquired through a liberal arts education and used it to help convert their prospective challenges, such as time sensitive projects and undefined roles/expectations, into transferable skills. Students took advantage of various networking opportunities and gained exposure in how multiple departments interact in small workspaces. These internships ultimately allowed them to obtain clarity on expectations for potential career paths.

Moderators

Rick Feldman

Lecturer in Economics; Entrepreneurship, Organizations and Society; Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

Risha Dewan

Watching People Watch You: Working in the Digital Marketing Industry, Economics and Politics Major

Behavioral targeting, a technique used by advertisers online to increase the effectiveness of campaigns, has revolutionized the digital marketing industry. Algorithms take into account various dimensions about users and serve to provide personalized advertisements that drive performance... Read More →

Iman Hussain

Speaking Up for Yourself: The Importance of Having a Voice as an Intern, Spanish and Politics Major

It is common to feel overwhelmed when starting as an intern, especially in a small company where there is nowhere to hide. This summer I worked in the marketing department at Perkins School for the Blind, a small non-profit school in Watertown, MA. I had to figure out when it was... Read More →

Maria Lewis

The Roller Coaster we Call Business, Neuroscience Major

Fabwright Origins is a minimalist creative agency specializing in graphic design and digitally augmented art, sculptures, and products. At Fabwright Origins I learned how to work with Inscape, which is a visual design software that has sophisticated drawing tools. This software is... Read More →

Ishanee Rudra

“It’s Like Uber, but for Pickles”: Navigating the Competitive World of Start-Ups., Economics and Math Major

We are constantly swimming in ideas, some good and some better. However only a handful of ideas turn into actions, and even fewer actions become sustainable start-ups. With a success rate of less than 10 percent, being an entrepreneur is harder than ever. So, what makes a start-up... Read More →

Liz Tucksmith

Chaos within Boundary: Finding Your Calling, Finding Yourself, Computer Science Major

This presentation will reflect on my experience this summer as a marketing intern in San Francisco, where I navigated the complex environment of a software startup called Badger Maps. As a computer science major thrown into the world of business, I was apprehensive to say the least... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Kendade 107

Session III

2:45pm

The Many Faces of Conservation

With today’s climate, both political and environmental, it’s positive to hear about projects actively invested in addressing the effects of humanity on the environment. In our presentation, we’d like to talk to you about some of these restoration and conservation projects. Conservation is a term that is usually used to lump together everything that involves helping the environment, but not many people take the time to consider the different facets of conservation science. Exploring both laboratory research and hands on field work, we assisted with projects focusing on ocean acidification, nesting seabird population monitoring, river restoration, and invasive plant species control. Humanity is the cause of all these changes, but we are also the only hope for fixing them. Together, we will discover the many faces of conservation.

Moderators

Alan Werner

Professor of Geology

Geology!

Speakers

Shevonne O'Connor

Tropical Coral and Coralline Algae Conservation, Biology Major

With the help of Lynk funding, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute station in Bocas del Toro, Panama. While I was there, I worked with post-doc Maggie Johnson on her ocean acidification projects, doing research in the... Read More →

Ashley Sanchez

Out with the New, in with the Old, Neuroscience Major

Living in South Florida, I am aware of our claim to fame: beaches and palm trees. Every vacation poster advertises these beautiful trees, enticing many to come visit the tropical paradise. Did you know, though, that there is such thing as a Florida Pine? These native Floridians used... Read More →

Julia Seiple

Life on the Elwha, Environmental Studies Major

Thanks to my Lynk funding, I was able to intern with the National Park Service, specifically on the Elwha Revegetation Project in the Olympic National Park. During my time there I was mentored by a Mount Holyoke Alum named Laurel Moulton. One of the main goals of the project was... Read More →

Fern Stidham

Shoring up Seabirds in Buzzards Bay, Environmental Studies Major

This summer I worked for MassWildlife on a long term study of Tern nesting colonies in Buzzards Bay, MA. I spent several months getting day-to-day hands-on field experience while working in a variety of settings with multiple species. This winter, one of our islands was built up with... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Clapp 407

Session III

2:45pm

Transforming Education through Research, Teaching, and Advocacy

Successful education encompasses teaching and extends beyond the classroom to policy reform, research, mentorship, and innovation. This past summer these panelists explored several different avenues in education. Each experience helped play an integral role in shaping education through community outreach, teaching in early education, mentoring high school students and understanding the institution of higher education.Through these new experiences these students have gained the skills necessary to navigate the potential professional fields in which they hope to have careers.

Moderators

Amy Grillo

Visiting Lecturer in Psychology and Education, Mount holyoke College

Speakers

Amalia Correia

Striving for a More Equitable, Quality Early Education and Care System in MA

This summer I interned with an advocacy nonprofit organization, Massachusetts Fair Share, in Boston, MA. I had the opportunity to work on four different campaigns, but my main focus was the Early Education campaign. Our two main focuses within this campaign was the bill drop for... Read More →

Sandi-Lynn Eshun

More Than a Counselor: a Mentor and Teacher to the Underprivileged Youth, Africana Studies and Psychology Major

Through Lynk, I had the opportunity to work with Upward Bound, a federal educational program that focuses on preparing primarily low-income and first-generation students for college. Upward Bound is a part of the TRIO program, initially launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964... Read More →

Haylea Hubacz

Asking All the Right Questions: A Look at Institutional Research in Higher Education, Statistics Major

This summer, I had the opportunity to have an internship in the office of Institutional Research, Evaluation and Assessment (IREA) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, MA. During my time with IREA I was able to assist with research, peer review reports before... Read More →

Kayla Ryan

Molding Young Minds: Learning Through Teaching, Psychology and Education Major

As someone interested in pursuing a career in education, I was determined to find an internship in a school setting--specifically early childhood education. I had the opportunity to spend my summer interning for Gorse Children’s Center located in South Hadley, Massachusetts. I primarily... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Kendade 303

Session III

2:45pm

“Coding” Your Personal Brand in the Financial Industry

What is it like to intern at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America with a computer science background? How did we get our internships? What are some tips to build good relationships with managers and senior employees during the internship? How do people stand out at financial firms of different cultures? We would like to share some of the unique lessons we learned during our internships. Our summer experiences in the financial industry provided us with lots of opportunities to network with people of various positions from other teams and divisions. We learned not only to maintain professionalism but also to build our personal brands that help our uniqueness shine through.

Moderators

Yueming Yang

Visiting Lecturer in Computer Science

Speakers

CiCi Chen

Belielf in Yourself Is Always the Key: How Do You Find Yourself Valuable in a Forbes-500 Company?, Computer Science Major

| Why does financial industry need people with a computer science background? I got this question from people surrounding me all the time, ever since I decided to intern at Bank of America for the past summer. Throughout my experience with the bank, I understood the relationship... Read More →

Xuefei Chen

I Am Not Just Another Intern: Differentiating Myself at Morgan Stanley, Computer Science and Psychology Major

Chen interned at Morgan Stanley as a summer technology analyst this year. She helped build a voice recognition and verification software to protect the accounts of the company’s tens of thousands of clients. In addition to the project, she also participated in career-building activities... Read More →

Jessica Feng

Conquering the Unknown: I Am Ready for More!, Computer Science & Math Major

What is it like to intern at one of the world’s largest banks as a computer science student who knew nothing about finance? This summer, I worked as a Technology Analyst at Bank of America in the greater New York City area. This opportunity provided me with experience in utilizing... Read More →

Rebecca Kim

Owning the Experience: Making the best out of your internship, Computer Science Major

What is it like to intern at Goldman Sachs? How do you brand yourself at such a big firm? As a Summer Technology Analyst at Goldman Sachs, I learned not only to manage my own project and build a full-stack web application but also to build my personal brand among tens of thousands... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 2:45pm - 3:40pm
Reese 316

Session III

3:45pm

Academia vs Technology: a Common Technology Crossroads

A very crucial moment in a student’s life is to make a decision regarding their career post-graduation. As students in computer science, the panelists have all faced the common dilemma of deciding between pursuing academia or industry. Researchers in academia lead cutting-edge innovations in labs and mentor young minds as teachers in various universities. Software engineers join companies of all sizes to design flexible and scalable solutions, and work on some of the most complex challenges in large-scale computing. As a panel with experience in gaming research, full-stack engineering at WalmartLabs, VR research, front-end engineering at Amazon and ubiquitous computing research, the panelists aim to create a discussion that will provide the attendees information regarding these common crossroads and how they tackled the dilemma. The panelists will also draw from their experiences and compare the skills learned at college and those that were required at their summer work.

Moderators

Barbara Lerner

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Speakers

Xijie Guo

Through Conducting a Research Internship in Germany: Challenges and Reaffirmation of Sticking with Computer Science, Computer Science Major

As a computer science major who loves experiencing new culture and lifestyle, conducting a research internship abroad was perfect for me. Through matching by DAAD RISE Program, I interned at University of Rostock and conducted research in the field of ubiquitous computing. The research... Read More →

Tracy Keya

The intersectionality of Roles: Product Manager and Software Engineer, Computer Science Major

Having spent previous summers involved in teaching high school girls how to code, it was time to gain some industry experience. Last summer, I was a software engineering intern at WalmartLabs in Sunnyvale, CA. This being my first technical internship, I was more than anxious to be... Read More →

Maddie Lapuk

US Fish & Wildlife IT Internship Provides Useful Perspective Between Government and Academia, Computer Science Major

My internship at the Hadley Regional Office of US Fish & Wildlife exposed me to a variety of real-world IT problems and issues. One of my main tasks was manning the Help Desk, where I interacted with people all over the East Coast, from North Carolina to Maine. I worked five days... Read More →

Jenny Lee

Virtual Reality is Real, Computer Science & Math Major

In recent years, virtual reality has become a new favorable technology because of its potential in gaming. Games in a virtual reality environment can bring players unprecedented experiences. | This summer, Jenny worked on an independent research project on virtual reality game design... Read More →

Aastha Niraula

Summer at Amazon, Computer Science Major

I worked as a software development engineering intern at Amazon this summer. Specifically, I interned with Amazon Video and worked on front-end engineering. Using languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS and HTML, I designed, implemented and tested a real-time graph reflecting the... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Kendade 203

Session IV

3:45pm

Dive into a Finance Career from a Liberal Arts Education

If you are considering a career in the financial sector, you should really know what you are getting into. This panel seeks to take you on a journey through careers across financial institutions around the globe, from hedge funds in Hong Kong to bulge bracket banks on Wall Street. By reflecting back on our summer experiences, we will show you how to adjust to long working hours, real-time feedback and exceed expectations on the job.

Moderators

Margaret Robinson

Julia and Sarah Ann Adams Professor of Mathematics

Speakers

Ani Gelashvili

A Problem Worth Solving: Summer on Wall Street, Math Major

As a mathematics student, I developed an aesthetic preference for theoretically elegant ideas that relate seemingly disjointed questions—hence my intention of pursuing a PhD program after graduating from Mount Holyoke College. But my summer as a Fixed Income Analyst at J.P. Morgan... Read More →

Haojie Jiao

Never Stop Learning in Financial Sectors, Economics and Math Major

Joanna Jiao interned at Hamon Asset Management as an analyst for 8 weeks. Hamon is a privately-owned investment manager in Hong Kong, founded in 1989. The firm launches and manages equity mutual funds for its clients and invests in public equity markets of Asia. Joanna did industry... Read More →

Sarah Qin

What Is Harvard Business School?, Economics Major

MBA is so cliche..why would anyone want to do a MBA? Why is business school still there? What is venture capital and private equity ? I'm a music / biology major, and I want to become an artist / scientist. Why should I care about business/finance at all?

Vincy Yu

Beyond Numbers: Working for a Hedge Fund, French & Statistics Major

Working buy-side in the financial industry is generally less common for undergraduate students. I will share my experience working for a buy-side hedge fund that focuses on the global market and discuss the following questions more in depth: 1. What is a hedge fund like? 2. How are... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Cleveland L1

Session IV

3:45pm

Education Beyond the Classroom

This panel explores the field of education from multiple perspectives. Our experiences this past summer included: Fulbright research in education, interning with the executive director of a charter school, teaching English and completing educational research in Argentina, and working with an education reform nonprofit. Each of our diverse experiences expanded our collective understandings of the fields of education and education policy. We worked independently, experienced working in new office environments, and overcame unforeseeable challenges. In the end, we all grew individually and gained new insights into our future career goals. By bringing together global and local perspectives, our panel seeks to understand the various facets of educational policy and how each of our unique experiences contributes to our knowledge of the field. We seek to share our process of finding these internships and how they have ultimately impacted our plans for a future in education.

Moderators

Veronica Zebadua

Speakers

Jennifer Kalbourji

A Collaborative Approach to School Administration: Incorporating Student Experiences in Educational Policy, Psychology and Education Major

This presentation will encompass my experiences interning with the executive director of a public charter high school in Rhode Island. Bringing my experiences as a student, mentor, and administrator, I collaborated with faculty to address detention policies, curriculum development... Read More →

Ariya Lawson

New Perspectives on a Flawed System, Psychology and Education Major

This summer, I worked in D.C. with a nonprofit organization, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER). DFER works at the local level to engage with elected officials to encourage conversation and champion reform projects that serve the public school students of those communities. Though... Read More →

(4) Elisabeth Lee

Desmond Fitz-Gibbon, History

Remembering and Forgetting: Parisian Politics and Ceremonies of May 8th, 1954

Alissa Smith

The Intersection of Education and Culture: Teaching and Educational Research in Argentina, Educational Policy Studies Special Major

As an Educational Policy Studies major and teacher licensure candidate, I always seek to deepen my understanding of the field of education. I have had many experiences within the US in education but none in international education until this past summer. I had the opportunity to intern... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Reese 304

Session IV

3:45pm

Historiography of Material Culture at Mount Holyoke College

While working on campus over the summer, we utilized the connected resources of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, Joseph Allen Skinner Museum, and Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections, in partnership with Mount Holyoke’s Antique Clothing Collection, to gain insight into the histories of these entities as well as the students, faculty, and staff who came before us. We will discuss everything from athletic uniforms to European currency, Japanese art, and Native American clothing. The disparate objects with which we worked revealed interconnected histories of different generations within the Mount Holyoke community, as well as connections outside the college. Building off of coursework that focused on the evolution of preservation, conservation, and exhibition, we gained insight into the progress of museology and archival work at Mount Holyoke College.

Moderators

Christine DeLucia

Assistant Professor of History

Speakers

James Collings

Why Coins Give Me Nightmares, History Major and Nexus in Public History, Museums, Archives

I was given the opportunity to intern at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum this summer and largely worked with the ethnographic collections. My main project was looking at part of the coin collection, which is largely made of Greco-Roman coins and updating records for coins that... Read More →

Cassie Peltier

From Data Entry to Display Cases: an Introduction to the World of Collection Management and Curation in Museums, History Major and Nexus in Public History, Museums, and Archives

Are the skills learned through history coursework really applicable in professional settings? Can research projects really lead to internships? Yes! As a Curatorial and Collections Intern at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum and the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum I worked closely... Read More →

Emily Tarantini

When Time Takes Up Space: Collections Management in a Museum, Anthropology Major

It has been said that museums are places where time is transformed into space. What happens when a museum has seen a lot of time, but has little (storage) space? This summer, I spent my time working at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum as a collections management intern. Under... Read More →

Lillian Williams

From Ball Gowns to Basketball: A Study of Antique Athletic Wear, Theatre Major

Imagine trying to move in a corset. It restricts your range of motion, forces your posture and even limits your ability to breathe. While these issues may seem archaic to the modern woman, it was not all that long ago that they were a reality for Mount Holyoke women. | | This... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Clapp 407

Session IV

3:45pm

Interdisciplinary Psychology: Animal, Vegetable, and the Human Brain

What do you think psychologists do in their research labs? How did we find internships in such labs? What did we take away from these opportunities? Each panelist will introduce you to a stunning example of student internship experiences exploring the psychology of animals, vegetables, and the human brain. Our collective experience comes from three labs focusing on four different branches of psychology: food and behavioral marketing, cognitive dissonance, music cognition, and psycholinguistic analyses of romantic relationship conflicts. From coding and preparing data for analysis, to interviewing global residents, to protocol development, we emerged from our internships with newfound confidence and perspective. Students and community members interested in the intersectional dynamics of psychology: our panel is for you.

Moderators

William Davis

Visiting Lecturer in Psychology and Education

Speakers

Allegra Corwin-Renner

Katie Gyenge

Mixing Mount Holyoke Moxy with Princeton Psych: My Summer Experience as a Princeton University Research Assistant, Psychology Major

I spent my summer as a Lynk UAF recipient as a research assistant for Dr. Joel Cooper of Princeton University. I worked closely with Dr. Cooper’s graduate student, Lauren Feldman, as we sought to expand his research on cognitive dissonance. I wrote a literature review based on six... Read More →

Siobhan Norman

HoofBeat: Music Cognition and Beat Synchronization in Horses, Psychology Major

Are horses able to synchronize their trots to music? This summer, I worked as a research assistant in the CAPS (Cognition, Attention, Perception, and Speech) lab at Mount Holyoke College. I mainly worked on a project called HoofBeat, which explores whether horses have the ability... Read More →

Natalia Provolo

The Food You Choose: Understanding Our Eating Decisions, Psychology Major

How does the color of your plate affect your food consumption? How do your surroundings contribute to your food choices and eating behaviors? Through her summer internship at Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, Natalia learned the answers to these questions, as well as how... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Clapp 206

Session IV

3:45pm

International Affairs and Development

In an increasingly globalized world, international affairs affect all of us in one way or another and shape the environment in which we live. This past summer, each of us worked for international NGOs and nonprofit organizations, working on a myriad of projects concerning different parts of the world. Our experiences include researching the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, working with the United Nations, researching Iran’s foreign policies, and working in the international development sector by providing support for elections in new and emerging democracies. Our panel will capture the range of experiences we went through as we tried to better the world from New York City and Washington D.C. Collectively, we gained valuable research experience as well as insights into the inner workings of international organizations and the realities of the world in which we live.

Moderators

Jenny Watermill

Senior Associate Director of Experience & Exploration, Career Development Center

Speakers

Romila Hussaini

Securing Peace: Advocacy, Education, and Community Building, Middle Eastern Studies Major

Before the disintegration of relations between the United States and Iran in 1979, the two countries enjoyed diplomatic relations for more than a century. After decades of estrangement, negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program brought the two countries to the same table, initiating... Read More →

Khadija El Karfi

International Relations and French Major, My Summer in Washington D.C

This summer, I interned at the Arab American Institute in Washington D.C. where I was also an external intern for No One Left Behind, an association that assists with the resettlement of Iraqi and Afghan interpreters who served American forces in combat. My time was spent between... Read More →

Habiba Shah

Junior Advior, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations

This summer, I had the privilege of representing my country, Pakistan, as a Junior Adviser at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City under the supervision of Deputy Permanent Representative Nabeel Munir and Ms. Saima Syed. As a government organization, the Permanent Mission... Read More →

Minahil Tauseef

Promoting Democracy: My Summer in Washington DC, International Relations Major

This summer, I interned for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, a Washington, DC-based international, non-profit organization that provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies. I worked specifically in the Gender and Elections department... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Reese 316

Session IV

Host Organization Wal-Mart
Area North, South
Tags Featured, Music

3:45pm

Power of Problem Solving: Impactful ideas

“The greater the ambiguity, the greater the pleasure.” This summer four Mount Holyoke students leaped into the unexpected as they explored paths in economic research, management and marketing, which helped them get a better understanding of the professional world and themselves. Through conducting an independent research on the global tobacco market, performing market research for a communications company, analyzing marketing trends to expand the company’s business, and conducting trade and resource-allocation research for a newly-turned Federal Nepal, these four women have learnt that excelling at any job means having the courage to work with ambiguity. Come join them as they deliver how experiences in the liberal arts classroom helped them navigate through various new challenges and strengthened their problem-solving ability to come up with impactful solutions. They will not only deliver how they applied academic models and theories to the complex global world but also discuss what helped each of them to turn their summer works into enriching and fulfilling experiences.

Moderators

Christopher Mitchell

Assistant Professor of International Relations and Politics

Speakers

(3) Sadikshya Bhattarai

Andy Reiter, International Relations

Mexico's Drug Violence: Necessity of a Proactive Civilian Engagement

Claire Han

Global Tobacco Market: Applying Models from Neoclassical Economics and Analyzing Mergers, Economics and Math Major

In my independent research, I defined the global tobacco market through a comparison of the top 10 largest tobacco companies’ market shares, increasing or decreasing tobacco sales in developing and developed countries, and a rising competitive structure between emerging companies... Read More →

Sally Hu

The Art of Communication: Storytelling That Resonates Across Cultures, International Relations & Italian Major

My past summer was well-spent at a boutique communications firm in New York City. As a PR & marketing intern, I worked with travel sector clients, from spectacular destinations like the islands of Tahiti, to the traditional Japanese onsen ryokan (hot spring inn) operators and beyond... Read More →

Uyen Nguyen

Marketing and PR in Japan: Challenges and Impacts, Math Major

“What do I have to know and prepare to work for a company in a country that I have never been to?”, “What are the expectations and outcomes?” These are the questions that Uyen, who has had an impactful and engaging internship in Japan, kept asking herself before going for... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Kendade 305

Session IV

3:45pm

Presenting Information through Interpersonal Connections (across the Globe)

During each of our dynamic internships, we were responsible for researching and gathering information to present to our superiors and a specific audience, depending on the experience. Throughout all of our internships, we were required to formulate different creative platforms to present information. Our information was presented to a range of different target audiences, where ages and backgrounds varied depending on the internship. Although we did encounter challenges, they led us to learn new methods of conveying information to our designated audiences. Each internship required us to filter this information and exhibit this knowledge that we had acquired in an accessible and engaging form through either an online profile for an international university, a social media post, or an interactive lesson for younger children. This skill enabled each of us to learn how to engage with our desired audience.

Moderators

Eleanor Townsley

Sociology

Speakers

Kyley Butler

Creating Narratives: Learning to Communicate History Effectively, History Major

How do you condense pages of research into 200 words? What is the best way to engage an audience about material culture? How do I determine what information will be the most interesting to a broad range of people? These are the key questions I had to take into consideration as I wrote... Read More →

Virginia Guerra

Lost in Translation: Navigating through Cultural Norms, International Relations Major

This summer, I interned at Università Ca 'Foscari in Venice, Italy in the International Relations Unit. During my internship, I evaluated international universities that were interested in entering exchange partnerships with the university. Once these partnerships were established... Read More →

Katrina Meserve

Creative Strategies for Children from Coast to Coast, Environmental Studies Major

Creative growth begins when one is able to transform the way they learn in new ways. This process of growth is constantly being seen in the way children problem-solve and strategize where play can be incorporated with deduction and reasoning skills as well as inventive and innovative... Read More →

Thanh Mai Nguyen

The World of PR/Marketing: That Agency Life, Economics Major

“So, what exactly do you do?” Working for a marketing agency, you’ll hear this question all the time. This summer, I was a Junior Executive Intern at Jolen Consulting, a full-service marketing agency based in Vietnam. Here, we handled all the PR and marketing activities according... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Kendade 303

Session IV

3:45pm

Protecting Rights, Advocating and Building Peace for the Other

Rights, advocacy, understanding and respect-- these are all difficult issues to navigate in the world today. Though we worked in vastly different areas, each of us worked on helping under-served populations navigate these issues either through non-profit organizations, criminal defense law firms or civil rights enforcement agencies. This summer, we all worked in the US, in an area that is related to a controversial issue in the present day-- religious extremism, Jewish affairs, criminal justice, and discriminatory practices in the workplace. Each of us used our internship experiences to create a more just and compassionate society by bringing our unique perspectives to the table.

Moderators

Amina Steinfels

Associate Professor of Religion

Speakers

Samantha Kell

Relearning the Past, Politics Major

This summer, I worked at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey, a branch of the Jewish Federation, in the government affairs department. While my main task was planning a seminar for local legislative interns, I was also able to meet influential politicians... Read More →

Cymone Martin

Sociology Major and Nexus Law, Public Policy and Human Rights

Through Lynk I had the opportunity to intern at Cripps & Silver, a criminal defense law firm in Detroit, Michigan. Cripps & Silver represents clients across the state charged with various misdemeanors and felonies such as: parole revocation, driver’s license restoration, appeals... Read More →

Fareeha Shamim

Bridging the Political and Religious Spheres in Support of Peacemaking: My Summer Internship at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, Economics and International Relations Major

This summer I interned at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD), an organisation bridging religious considerations with the practice of international politics in support of peacemaking. As an intern, I contributed to the the training program of Pakistani imams... Read More →

Isabelle Tan

Behind the Scenes: Enforcing Civil Rights, History Major, Computer Science Minor

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) is a civil rights law enforcement agency which investigates cases involving discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation. As an investigative intern, I was primarily investigating cases of discrimination... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Cleveland L2

Session IV

3:45pm

Software, Product and Data across Small Startups and Big Corporations

What is it like in the tech industry? There is no single answer. During this past summer, we interned at startups and large corporations across different fields including travel, insurance, healthcare, search engines and social media. We experienced different work cultures, tried different roles from software/IT engineer to product manager, faced various challenges and all had great takeaways about what it is like to work in tech. Our panelists will explore the differences and similarities of each type of work environment and discuss the skills and preparation that they found most useful for their line of work.

Moderators

Daniel Sheldon

Five College Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Speakers

Kat Aiello

Growing the World's Largest Social Network, Computer Science Major and Nexus in Data Science

Mark Zuckerberg announced in June 2017 that two billion people around the world use Facebook, double its size less than five years ago. How does a social network reach this unprecedented milestone and what do engineers consider when building products for such a massive and diverse... Read More →

Sara Harda

Where Does Synergy Lie in the Product Development Process?, Computer Science & Anthropology Major

In the contemporary mythology of business, tech-entrepreneurship is usually synonymous with genius and self-reliance. Start-up moguls are stereotypically portrayed as solitary heroes who built their first product at the back of a garage or in a college dorm. However, the moment one... Read More →

Yu Hu

A Leap from Classroom to Industry: a Summer as Mobile Feature Developer, Computer Science Major

I interned as a software engineer at Google. I worked as an Android feature developer for the Google Search app which has over one billion users. Prior to the internship, I only had one day of experience with Android mobile development at HackHolyoke. However, my partner and I quickly... Read More →

Shirley Xu

Duplicate or Not? It’s Your Call., Statistics Major and Nexus in Data Science

When given "50 College Street MHC 1234”, “50 College St, Mt. Holyoke College, 1234”, and “50 College Street, Mount Holyoke College 1234”, we would probably realize that the three records of address refer to the same place simultaneously. But how would you train a machine... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Kendade 107

Session IV

3:45pm

Teaching for a Difference

Education is found inside and outside of the classroom, which is something the four members of this panel, Ariel, Sabrina, Rachel, and Kathryn, will discuss as part of their reflection on their summer experience. Our experiences stretch from basketball courts in Vietnam to riding arenas in Reno, management in Kenya, and teaching in Argentina. Viewers will take away from our panel a broader understanding of different cultures, self-reflection, community involvement and how one internship experience can shape future career aspirations. Reflecting on their internships this summer, these panelists gained insight into how the work they did helped to shape how they wish to proceed in their future career aspirations.

Moderators

Marcella Runell Hall

Speakers

Ariel Fry Demetria

Data Entries from the African Diaspora, Undecided

When I decided I wanted to major in economics, I felt relieved. I would live a normal life and have a normal job. The path of studying economics felt stable to me. Normal would be far from anything I was ever accustomed to, but it would be a change I could come to accept. My interest... Read More →

Rachel Dennis

Connecting Argentina to the World: Lessons on Navigating the Classrooms of Argentina, English

Language learning through an intercultural approach transforms the traditional classroom experience through its emphasis on using language to access a culture. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to be involved with this method of teaching through the work I did as a teaching and... Read More →

(4) Sabrina Fox

Morena Svaldi, International Relations

Learn Italian while riding a horse! An original Manual by Sabrina Fox

Kathryn Violette

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Clapp 218

Session IV

3:45pm

To Our Internships and Beyond: Our Futures in Biology and Chemistry

Learning does not end with academia, and the world of science is so much larger than the classroom. This summer we pushed the boundaries of the research we were familiar with and learned how it can have practical applications. Chemistry helps us develop drug delivery methods and improves industrial agriculture. Biology allows us to understand disease and design new medications. Our internships helped us understand what we love about science and what we want to focus on in the future. Some of us realized our love for pure academic research, and want to pursue graduate school immediately. Some of us want to go into the industry and continue applying our knowledge. Regardless, our internships honed our scientific interests and increased our confidence. We are not the same people we were at the start of the summer. We’ve come far, and we aren’t stopping here.

Moderators

Maria Gomez

Elizabeth Page Greenawalt Professor of Chemistry

Speakers

Tina Le

The Industrial Side: My Summer Internship Experience at Ball Horticultural, Biology Major

“Academia or the industry?” is a perpetual internal debate for many aspiring scientists in their college years, the answer of which would determine their choice of education and work experience later in life. Before my internship, I was also among the individuals struggling to... Read More →

(1) Miranda Lee

Jason Andras, Biological Studies

The Genetic Basis of Rescue Behavior in Tetramorium caespitum

Kate Maziarz

A Taste of the Chemistry World, Chemistry Major

During my internship at Mount Holyoke College, granted by the Lynk Program, I immersed myself in an environment that further developed my chemical background. Working under the mentorship of Kyle Broaders, I explored chemical techniques and advanced my skills by operating analytical... Read More →

Madelaine McAlister-Raeburn

Fear and Loathing and Antibiotic Resistance, Biology and Music Major

This summer, the Lynk funding enabled me to work in a lab in my hometown in the Biology department of Eastern Michigan University. The project I worked on was EMU’s application of the Small World Initiative, a program started by Yale University in 2012. The SWI is an effort at “crowdfunding... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Clapp 306

Session IV

3:45pm

Welcoming and Empowering the Next Generation from Coast to Coast

This summer, each of us participated in internships that tackled the overarching issue of inadequate resource access across the United States. Our panelists held internships at an immigration law firm, immigration nonprofit organizations, and a federally-funded program that assisted first-generation and low-income students in navigating the college process. As we supported clients, assisted them with legal and health services, and facilitated workshops, we realized that there is more work to be done in terms of ensuring that immigrants, refugees, and first-generation and low-income students are given the tools to succeed in society. Our internships have inspired our future goals as we work towards a future that affords everyone the same opportunities, whether it’s the opportunity to become a citizen or to go to college and change the world.

Moderators

Liz Lierman

Speakers

Iliana Enriquez

Empowering and Mentoring the Youth Today to Lead Tomorrow, Psychology and Education Major

This past summer I interned as an Assistant Academic Coordinator at an organization called USC Upward Bound. The program Upward Bound (UB) is an academic college preparatory program for high school students funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored locally by the University... Read More →

Lysandra Joseph

Social Service to Social Action: A Multifaceted Approach to Immigration Reform, International Relations Major

The Latin American Coalition, a non-profit located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is dedicated to ensuring the success of Latin American immigrants in Charlotte. The Coalition provides access to resources through services such as crisis intervention, job assistance, and legal aid... Read More →

Kimberly Mota

From Classroom to Law Office, Architecture Major

My academic career was greatly impacted by the Latinx studies program at Mount Holyoke. With time, I realized the influence that Latinx studies had on my academic career and goals. I was then challenged to figure out how to draw on my education in Latinx Studies in the service of... Read More →

Jody Phelps

Santa Fe Dreamers Project: DACA, Detention and Navigating US Immigration Law, Geography and Spanish Major

This summer, Jody interned in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the Santa Fe Dreamers Project. They are a nonprofit immigration law firm whose mission is to provide pro-bono legal services to Dreamers, and they have recently expanded to provide services to detainees who are petitioning the... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Carr 102

Session IV

3:45pm

When There is More to Tech than Software

Each of us explored different dimensions of the technology industry, ranging from a social media hub (Facebook) to a tech giant (Google), a networking industry (Juniper Networks), and healthcare (Oscar Health). Over the summer, we developed professional and technical skills. We were able to navigate a male-dominated industry as international women of color. In particular, we found that our liberal arts education aided in making us more independent and outspoken. As a result, we emerged as better computer scientists, communicators and thinkers.

Moderators

Heidi Holder

Visiting Lecturer in Theatre Arts

Speakers

Shanzeh Agrawala

Navigating the Network: a Summer of Growth, Computer Science Major

Technology surrounds us. It is an inevitable part of our lives. But the technological world is multi-dimensional, ever-changing and, in truth, very interdisciplinary. This summer I was exposed to a part of computer science I had no prior experience with: networking. Working with Juniper... Read More →

Linh Dang

Are You Ready to Work for a Tech Giant Like Facebook?, Computer Science & Math Major

I spent the summer developing features of Facebook Live on Android devices. I expanded to the new Live UI the feature of setting posts’ privacy to fixed “Public” privacy, adding audience restrictions to target live videos to certain ages, genders, languages or locations of viewers... Read More →

Tien Dao

Najwa El Khamlichi

Modernizing a $3.2 Trillion Dinosaur, Computer Science Major

The Affordable Care Act bill, also known as Obamacare, has created the opportunity for 50 million americans to buy health insurance in the exchanges for the first time. This tiny bill has allowed the birth of a new type of health insurance that is member centered. I will be talking... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 3:45pm - 4:40pm
Cleveland L3

Session IV

4:45pm

All Roads Are the Right One

The fields of art and history are as diverse as the people who study them, so deciding where to start exploring when seeking an internship can be daunting. Our four panelists, Lisa Burns, Longying Xie, Dani Planer, and Sam Miller, discovered that traditional searches were not right for them and struck out on their own. Some approached organizations with which they were familiar, while others boldly contacted administrations about which they had no prior knowledge. These students discovered that the unknown can yield a wealth of personal growth, while the expected can lead to pleasant surprises. These panelists not only learned about their potential careers but about themselves and the power of self-determination in seeking work and internship opportunities.

Moderators

Katherine O'Callaghan

Visiting Lecturer in English

Speakers

Lisa Burns

School Photos: Another Tool for Genealogy Research, History Major

Historical societies are a vital component to preserving local history. These organizations collect and preserve items that connect the past to the present. Their archives may include equipment related to town industry, paintings from local artists, and regional textiles of historical... Read More →

Sam Miller

One Is Enough, History Major

One often enters into an internship with high expectations: to gain extensive knowledge of their field of study in multiple areas. This goes doubly for those whose internships were only described in vague terms; becoming an “assistant” or “helper” can mean any number of things... Read More →

Dani Planer

Learning to Listen: an Exploration of the Independent Publishing World, Critical Social Thought Major

Through LYNK, I had the opportunity to work as a general editor with the online literary magazine and podcast Voicemail Poems, which seeks to highlight the raw and authentic voices of new and established writers of all genres. Poets submit to the magazine by reading their original... Read More →

Longying Xie

Exploring the Art World, Art History and Economics Major

This summer, my internship in the Samuel Freeman gallery really made an impact on me. The impact is substantial because I witnessed and experienced the dynamic operation of the contemporary commercial art gallery in terms of sale, exhibition installation and artist studio visitation... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Kendade 303

Session V

4:45pm

American Norms in a Global Context

Both stateside and abroad, our internships allowed us to apply our Mount Holyoke education in a global context. Our internships involved us working in a variety of disciplines and around the world, whether that be conducting research on global labor rights from Massachusetts, studying herbalism through practice in Costa Rica, teaching English in Argentina, or working in Vietnam at an organization founded by American veterans. What tied us together was our process of engaging with international communities while acknowledging our positionality as Americans. Our internships led us to engage on a macro and micro-level with global communities, from legal frameworks to local practices, connecting across cultures and languages. These internships gave us each a greater perspective within our respective fields and have opened up new possibilities as to what is possible for each of us post-MHC.

Moderators

Holly Hanson

Co-Chair of the Development Studies Nexus; Professor of History

Speakers

Sabrina Im

English as Cultural Capital, International Relations Major

Intercultural language learning can stop the monopolization of American and British cultural norms by encouraging the learner to bring their own culture into the classroom while learning English. Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to work for a private language institution, Home... Read More →

Cat Lamond

An Introduction to Herbal Medicine in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Anthropology Major

In the face of globalizing biomedicalization, traditional medicinal plant use remains in practice throughout Costa Rica. In Monteverde, both biomedical technologies and herbal medicine exist simultaneously, providing two different interpretive frameworks which residents utilize in... Read More →

Ruth Sangree

The Role of NGOS in Post-War Reconciliation 40 Years Out, History Major

The War in Vietnam has left an indelible mark on Vietnam and the United States. Bringing about reconciliation between the two countries has been a multi-pronged effort, of which NGOs are a substantial part. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work in Hanoi, Vietnam for the... Read More →

Adele Stock

From Cotton to Gold: Labor in a Global Context, History Major

It is not often we think about the human labor that goes into the goods we consume, or the laws that govern that labor. It is also not often we consider where, and how, our goods are produced. This summer, I gained a much deeper understanding of global labor issues through research... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Cleveland L3

Session V

4:45pm

Connecting the Dots: Working with Data and Identifying Trends around the World

In our digital age, we have become accustomed to having huge amounts of information right at our fingertips. But how do we find meaning in numbers? The value of data emerges from how it can be used to tell a story, inform decisions, and ultimately shape the future. The members of this panel deployed data in unique and overlapping ways to answer important questions: how to track and incentivize improvements in city sustainability, how to understand consumer behavior, how to optimize webpages, and how to analyze macroeconomic and demographic trends to interpret consumer rationale.
Working with tech startups, nonprofit organizations, and multinational companies around the world—in India, Vietnam, Chile and the U.S.—we applied our analysis skills across a variety of contexts. This panel will explore diverse applications of data analysis and reflect on how numbers can be transformed into impact.

Moderators

Sarah Adelman

Associate Professor of Economics

Speakers

Karen Alcantar

Why User Experience Matters, Sociology Major

This summer I worked as a digital marketing intern for a tech-startup called TUTEN, in Santiago, Chile. This data driven position not only refined my analytical skills, but it allowed me to see the meaningful impact data has on a company, no matter the size of the company. I focused... Read More →

Advika Mukherjee

Marketing at a Multinational Corporation, Economics and International Relations Major

This past summer, Advika worked at Tetra Pak India, a multinational organization that provides sustainable packaging and processing solutions to clients across the globe, as a marketing intern. During her time there, she assisted with their three-year business development planning... Read More →

Sabine Rogers

Step-by-Step Sustainability: Combining Data-Driven Work and a Passion for the Environment, Environmental Studies and French Major

What does it mean to be a sustainable city? How do you measure the social, economic, and environmental vitality of a city and determine how well it is doing over time and compared to other cities? This summer I interned with the U.S. Green Building Council and worked on solutions... Read More →

Lan Truong

Economics and Italian Major

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Clapp 206

Session V

4:45pm

Diversity within Veterinary Medicine

The veterinary field can be divided into infinite subgroups depending on specialties and unique applications. A Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine can open up a variety of pathways for any new veterinary school graduate. Though connected by a common passion, these specialties come with their own set of challenges and rewards. In this panel, four pre-vet students who worked across the U.S. and around the globe speak about how they found their experiences to be varied across disciplines. From South African wildlife to small animal house calls, from working with canines to local clinics, they explored diversity within the veterinary field. Despite all of these dissimilarities, these individuals also discovered countless parallels within their summer work. The majority of these resemblances stem from a combined interest in medicine and a love for animals.

Moderators

Jenni Casunduan-Sumi

Speakers

Diana Choi

A Call for Animal Lovers: Internship at House Call Veterinary Services, Biology Major

Interested in learning about an alternative veterinary career path? House call veterinary services is a mobile veterinary practice treating exclusively cats and dogs, providing quality medical care for your pet in a home environment, from minor allergy problems to chronic diseases... Read More →

Stella Elwood

Dog Wrangler Extraordinaire: My Summer as a Veterinary Intern, Biology Major

I spent the summer interning at Randolph Animal Hospital, a small animal clinic close to my hometown. During the internship, I trained to take on the duties of a veterinary technician, meaning that I spent much of my time taking patient histories, assisting with appointments, restraining... Read More →

Shannon O'Connor

From South Hadley to South Africa: Connecting Veterinary Experiences at Home and Abroad, Biology Major

This past summer I traveled to the Eastern Cape, South Africa, where I worked as a veterinary intern. While there, I learned from and assisted veterinarians in a variety of environments, including wildlife game reserves, industrial and small-scale farms, and in small and large animal... Read More →

Grace Wheeler

Specialized Care for Working Canines, Biology Major

Grace is studying to become a veterinarian specifically for working canines, because she believes working dogs’ indispensable daily performance requires specialized medical care. In order to learn more about this specific interest, Grace did her summer internship with The Seeing... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Cleveland L1

Session V

4:45pm

Exhibiting the Visibility of Museums and Galleries: From England to New England

From exhibition design to archiving, evaluation and promotion through social media, the work of our panelists represents the varied facets that make up a functioning art museum/gallery. Each panelist had focus areas within four different sectors of art history, but the multiplicity of our jobs worked towards a common goal of preserving and promoting art within a museum and gallery space. Although our individual interests vary from art history and film to Russian studies and psychology, our panel is unified through our internships. We found that our most beneficial experiences occurred when we applied our academic interests to the field. Each of our internship experiences utilized our separate interests and expanded them within a career-based environment. These internships include Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and The Lyndsey Ingram Gallery in London.

Moderators

Ajay Sinha

Professor of Art History

Speakers

Emily Blomquist

Nesting into Russian History: the Connection between History and Art in Museum Donations, Russian and Eurasian Studies Major

I spent my summer interning at the Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This presentation will explore the connection between art and history that is inherent in all curatorial museum work, and specifically, in the donation of over 700 nesting dolls, lacquer boxes... Read More →

Kaitlin Boheim

Your Mind on Art: Applying Psychology in a Museum Context, Psychology Major

This summer I dedicated my internship search to exploring the various ways in which my major, psychology, can be applied in the non-academic world. I ended up working in the evaluation department of the Peabody Essex Museum, an American maritime and Chinese export art museum in Salem... Read More →

(1) Ellie Dolan

Robin Blaetz, Film Studies

Art Detectives: Teaching Kids Art History Through Television

Olivia Melton

Small Museum Big Artist: My Summer in the Archives, Art History Major

During the summer of 2017 I interned at the Cape Ann Museum, a local art and maritime museum on Boston’s north shore. I worked primarily in their library and archives. One of the projects for which I was responsible was cataloging the Virginia Lee Burton collection. Burton was a... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Clapp 218

Session V

4:45pm

Flexibility in Design and Culture

In today’s world, it has become increasingly imperative to incorporate design with culture in order to create a more global perspective. Working with two or more cultural backgrounds can pose some challenges. A good example is how technology is introduced as a replacement for hand-crafted material. As international designers, it is vital to know how to convert these objectives positively without intruding on cultural heritage. Challenges subconsciously push a designer to deconstruct the existing constraints from his or her own background in order to embrace current trends and existing cultural norms with flexibility. The ultimate goal, which is a work in progress, is to achieve results that both reflect compelling design and embrace the challenges faced in each culture’s context.

Moderators

Michael Davis

Professor of Art History, Mount Holyoke College

Speakers

(1) Stella Chepkwony

Michael Davis, Art History and Architectural Studies

DECONSTRUCTING CLASSROOM ARCHITECTURE IN RURAL KENYA

Casey Pan

To Be an International Designer in This Cultural Swirl, Architecture Major

As future international designers, how could we balance what we learned from school with what is needed in the office, and how do we navigate our work while people in the office are working in a different pattern than us? I have worked in four different design offices in four different... Read More →

Olive Tran

Designing Internationally: Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned, Computer Science Major

Design can be affected a by a great variety of factors, cultural and social contexts included. As the Design Intern for VietAbroader 2017 Career Conference, Olive Tran's goal was to brainstorm and design compelling promotional materials to attract Vietnamese youth. Through her internship... Read More →

Xin Zhong

Compromise and Resist, Architecture and Math Major

Designers’ approaches toward a certain task are unambivalently shaped by their cultures. Placing different cultures in a high-density working environment predictably causes friction: a classic exemplar of such a conflict is a designer from a technology-dependent background experiencing... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Carr 102

Session V

4:45pm

Fostering a Sense of Place Through Literary Work

This panel will explore the multiple layers of the literary world, highlighting the importance of creating place through social engagement and individual reflection.Two panelists interacted directly with the community by promoting accessibility to previously-published works as well as fostering a love of literature. The other panelists worked within the pre-publication process, from drafting to assisting agents in preparing client manuscripts for publication. Molly found her place in nonprofit development work and gained experience in fundraising and grant research in New York City. Katie promoted dialogue across communities in her hometown through a reading campaign which encouraged residents to read the same book in tandem. Trisha gained a sense of confidence regarding her future plans as she learned about the publication process from start to finish. Carlin found the value in writing on location, as well as using research and interviews to communicate her work’s setting.

Moderators

Amy Rodgers

Assistant Professor of English, Mount Holyoke College

I love to talk about ideas of all kinds. I am a first-generation student and come from a working-class background.

Speakers

Katie Carlson

Seven Months to Launch: One Senior’s Career and Community Epiphany, English Major

What happens when a red Pegasus takes on an internship at her hometown library? She gets a chance to be a changemaker in a way that’s close to home in more ways than one. For Katie, an unexpected summer internship turned into a passion project and eventually crystallized in her... Read More →

Trisha Kelly

Agent, Editor, Author: Planning for a Future in Publishing, Five College Film Studies Major

Ever wonder what happens to a book before it lands on an editor’s desk? Trisha spent her summer immersed in the New York City publishing scene through her work at InkWell Management, a literary agency with a client base ranging from Anthony Bourdain to Markus Zusak. This presentation... Read More →

Molly Libbey

Increasing Accessibility and Incentivizing Engagement: Community-Building in a City of Nine Million, History Major

Molly Libbey spent her summer interning at House of SpeakEasy, an organization dedicated to increasing accessibility to literary works and fostering students’ love of literature. Working in the field of development, Molly gained valuable skills including grant research and writing... Read More →

Carlin Ring

Farm Wisdom: How Going Back Helped Move a Novel Forward, English and Religion Major

Sometimes life doesn’t lead to an internship. Carlin spent her summer working on the first draft and a revision of a novel in verse. Using habits and skills learned from poetry courses and a course on children’s literature at Mount Holyoke, Carlin wrote narrative poetry, telling... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Kendade 305

Session V

4:45pm

From Bench to Bedside: What They Don't Teach You in Pre-Health Classes

There are countless subspecialties within the field of healthcare, and the five members of our panel each represent a different clinical focus. From research to direct patient care, our panel seeks to introduce viewers to the broad array of opportunities available in the healthcare industry. As we engaged with various facets in the field of medicine this summer, our experiences fostered our growth as undergraduates in ways classroom experiences alone could not. Through our internships, we learned the value of empowered compassion, retaining composure, openness to innovation, and adaptability. Our diverse experiences have reaffirmed the career paths that we hope to pursue after our time at Mount Holyoke.

Moderators

Jared Schwartzer

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education

Speakers

(1) Maddy Berkowitz-Cerasano

Jared Schwartzer, Neuroscience & Behavior

Combined Maternal and Offspring Allergic Asthma: A Model of the Double Hit Hypothesis

Didjana Celkupa

Clinical Research in Cardiology: It's More than Just a Wet Lab, Neuroscience Major

Clinical research is one of the areas of medicine where many innovations in healthcare for patients takes place. These clinical trials and research have many components and aspects in order for them to work properly. As a clinical research assistant at the Massachusetts General Hospital... Read More →

Mollie Kowalchik

A Beacon of my Future: Life as a Physical Therapist, Special Major

I spent my summer as a physical therapy intern at Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. I worked specifically with one team of therapists, consisting of two physical therapists and two physical therapy assistants. My responsibilities included setting up equipment... Read More →

Riley Maddox

Blazing New Trails: A Novel Approach to Eldercare, Psychology Major

Panelist Riley Maddox spent his summer as a research assistant for Baystate Medical Center's Acute Care for Elders program. As Baystate has one of the top 40 geriatric care programs in the United States, Riley spent his summer coming to understand what the program does differently... Read More →

Aniqa Rahman

The Examined Life: Modeling Continuities in Care from Pediatric to Geriatric Health, Biology and Religion Major

In a healthcare system that is as diverse as it is continuously diversifying, the need to understand our differences and the contexts in which the individual is formed and forming is more important than ever. From the conversation we have with a child on why he has been having trouble... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Reese 316

Session V

4:45pm

Research and Development: Programming across Disciplines

Computer programming and data literacy are becoming increasingly important in a variety of fields. Our panel focuses on applications of computer programming across different disciplines. Members of our panel worked in areas such as software development, national security, applied mathematics, and statistics. We employed a collection of programming languages, big data analysis practices, and self-directed research decision-making in order to meet our ultimate goals. Even though our work experiences spanned academic institutions, government agencies, and the financial industry as well as the country, fast-paced work environments unified our experiences as first time researchers and developers.

Moderators

Timothy Chumley

Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Speakers

Elyssa Kiva

The Data Behind Biosurveillance, Statistics Major

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is one of 17 US Department of Energy National Laboratories. Through their National Security Internship Program, I was placed in the data science and analytics group where I worked with a team of staff and other interns to develop and improve an... Read More →

Raeesa Mehjabeen

Software Engineering in the Finance Industry, Computer Science Major

My summer at Nationwide, an insurance and finance company, gave me important duties and responsibilities where I directly coded results that would affect thousands of their customers, such as designing their applications and doing data analysis for project upgrades. As an application... Read More →

Allison Pan

Undergraduate Research in Math: What Should You Expect, Math Major

This summer, I participated in an undergraduate research program (REU) for mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University. I worked on an independent applied mathematics project with my advisor on examining the impact of three-point differentials on winning a game in the NBA. The application... Read More →

Young Yang

Summer 2017: Data, Research and Programming, Economics and Statistics Major

Over the summer, I did statistics on-campus research with Professor Tim Chumley in a group of two for eight weeks. Our research topic was a more in-depth study of the Stochastic Processes, which incorporated Brownian Motion, Ito’s Lemma and Differential Equations, etc. This summer... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Kendade 203

Session V

4:45pm

The Power of a Young Mind

This panel will delve into the power of young minds. Having all worked with children in some capacity over the summer, we want to highlight the abilities of children to learn, teach, and grow at various points in their childhood, from infancy to elementary age. We will explore this from the perspectives of infant cognition research, preschool classroom work, child memory research, all in the northeast United States, and teaching language and dance in Nicaragua. What are we born with that allows us to interact with our world? How will young children go about selecting which pieces make a machine run? How do preschool children challenge the preconceptions they have about the social world? What cultural factors influence a child’s education level or how they learn? By watching the children challenge themselves and expand their knowledge, we learned from them and caught a glimpse of the future ahead.

Moderators

Caroline Horne

Speakers

Zashira Arias

The Beauty in the Challenge of Education in Nicaragua, Psychology Major

Podcasts for Peace is a social justice community center that helps children in the community of Managua, Nicaragua grow. Their goal is to offer a safe space for children to become leaders and enrich their lives through creative expression, academic and life skills, along with health... Read More →

Maria Flanders

Child Scientists Wanted: Lessons from Infant Cognition Research, Psychology Major

Most people’s first thoughts when seeing a baby do not include how that infant is processing information. For some, though, those inner processes are key to understanding ourselves as humans of any age. Infant cognition research gives insight into what skills and proclivities we... Read More →

Riva Lam

Find All The Ones That Make the Machine Go!

This past summer I worked at The Causality and Mind Lab in Providence, RI. There I was mainly tasked with running the Blicket Fish Two experiment, where a "blicket detector" is used to present novel causal relations to children, and looking at how they engage in explicit belief revision... Read More →

Aizpea Murphy

Thinking Critically with Preschool Children, Psychology Major

Over the course of this summer I worked in the preschool classroom at Gorse Children’s Center, a private research-based school. I taught alongside two other preschool teachers who worked together to create a stimulating and individualized classroom curriculum for children three... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Reese 304

Session V

4:45pm

The Power of Storytelling: Writing as Social Change

Storytelling is a powerful tool for social change. The ability to tell the story of an individual or group is to acknowledge their human experience. Through our respective internships at magazines, newspapers, and nonprofit organizations, we used creative blogs, anthologies of student writing, strategic impact narratives, and news articles to promote interfaith political organizing, arts education, training for new social impact leaders, and community connections. The ultimate goal of our storytelling was to mobilize social action so that we can reduce the inequalities and injustices that occur in our world. We worked all across the country in four organizations with very different missions, but we all learned to use the writing and story-crafting skills we have gained at Mount Holyoke to impact the world around us.

Moderators

Elizabeth Young

Carl M. and Elsie A. Small Professor of English

Speakers

Wendy Chen

Stories of Youth Leadership: Writing for Global Development and Social Justice, Five College Film and Sociology Major

I was the Director of Storytelling's intern at the Millennium Campus Network (MCN), a nonprofit organization in Boston, MA, this summer. MCN is dedicated to training a new generation of ethical, effective, and engaged social impact leaders in the global development sector. As an intern... Read More →

(1) Maddie Cook

Elizabeth Markovits, Politics

Coalition as Representation: Reviving Democratic Accountability and Participation

Sheila McIntosh

Amplifying Young Voices: Working in Nonprofit Publications, English Major

I spent this summer as a Publications Intern at 826CHI, a chapter of a national nonprofit that provides free creative writing programs to students. My role was to transform manuscripts of student writing, from sci-fi plays to political poems, into professionally-published books. I... Read More →

Sarah Olsen

The Power of Storytelling: Journalism, English and Religion Major

I spent this summer as a newspaper intern at The La Grande Observer in La Grande, Oregon. At the newspaper I worked with journalists and photographers to report on news in Wallowa and Union county. I managed the newspaper’s web site and social media, attended local events and interviewed... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Clapp 306

Session V

4:45pm

The Ripple Effect: Impacting Policy Locally, Nationally, and Internationally

Local, national and county-level policy change can trigger incremental change, rippling from states to countries to the world. Likewise, our internships were situated at different levels of policy, but we all managed to contribute something to our fields, whether focusing on firearms, immigration, labor, or environmental conservation. Our individual presentations will discuss how we engaged with researching current public policies that affect the lives of people at local, state, domestic, and international levels. We will discuss our shared experience in data collection and statistical work while also speaking as to what legal research looks like from different vantage points, tying them together in a shared method and purpose. Although differing in fields and subject matter, our panel is a testament to how internships focused at the local level are equally as vital as research conducted internationally.

Moderators

Roshonda Degraffenreid

Speakers

Nadia Babar

Young, Scrappy, and Hungry: Fast-Track to Becoming a Lawyer, Philosophy and Politics Major

This summer, I worked as a law clerk for the Gove Law Office in Northampton, Massachusetts. As an aspiring attorney, I was ecstatic to be able to experience the legal world as a rising junior. Furthermore, I wasn’t just tasked with menial errands like grabbing coffee and making... Read More →

Spurthi Jonnalagadda

Real Impacts of Theoretical Statutes: Econometric Analysis of the Law, Economics Major

Over the summer, I worked at Stanford Law School, researching for a professor who was interested in looking at the impacts of various firearm policies on crime rates in the country. My work consisted of many different tasks. I wrote literature reviews, compiling and consolidating... Read More →

Sofia Raiffa

Testing the Waters of Human Rights and Non-Profit Work, Politics & Sociology Major

This past summer I was able to explore the possibilities of a career in nonprofit work, which gave a more nuanced and informed view of the field. Working at the global-reaching and locally-based non-profit Verite was both rewarding and enlightening as I was able to hone and polish... Read More →

Alice Simmons

Mapping a Career in Local Government, Environmental Studies Major

This summer I interned with the Town of South Hadley’s Conservation Commission, under the supervision of the town planner and the conservation administrator. I was initially hired to create maps of the trails in the town’s conservation areas, but I found myself involved in much... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Kendade 107

Session V

4:45pm

Women in Tech - Individuality through Teamwork

The four of us worked on different subfields of the tech industry, such as game development, cloud computing, web development, and android development. However, we all had similar experience with working in a relatively small teams to develop our projects. We grew as professionals and as individuals during this past summer. In addition to developing our people skills, we also displayed our strong personalities and strived to be valuable members of our teams. One of the most crucial lessons we learned was that no matter how hard a problems seems, with self-determination and collaboration, it can be solved. We built our networks and now we not only have former colleagues but also friends with whom we may work again in the future.

Moderators

Lisa Ballesteros

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Speakers

Veneta Cholakova

A Woman in Game Development, Computer Science and Mathematics Major

In the summer of 2017 I was part of the Summer Innovation Program of MassDiGI in Worcester, MA. The program brought 28 students together to work on five mobile games. I was on a team of seven people and learned a lot about mobile game development. We created a 2D game called “Raise... Read More →

Hiwete Fetene

Mapping Your Way around the Code, and the Company, Computer Science Major

This summer, I spent three months working with a team of developers in Verizon Innovation Labs in Waltham, MA. I was given a sole project to build a library for a web portal that would be used to authenticate its users in a language I had not seen before and was required to give daily... Read More →

Kayla Nguyen

Optimizing Virtual Machines - from Data to Action, Computer Science Major

This summer, I returned as a software engineering intern at Google. My team was Google App Engine Flexible Environment (GAE Flex), a platform under Google Cloud, hosting web and mobile applications. As an intern, I built a benchmark suite that evaluates performance-tuning parameters... Read More →

Xiaolei (Kaya) Ni

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Cleveland L2

Session V

4:45pm

Youth Empowerment and Engagement within the Nonprofit Sector

As a group of activists, our themes diverged but centered around youth engagement and utilizing the spaces in non-profit organizations to empower young people to advocate for their educational opportunities. All of us worked with marginalized youth who were of low-to-middle-income status, of mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds, and whose ages ranged from infancy to their early twenties. Motivated by social justice, we all searched for optimal personal and social impact in communities. Key Estime worked at Railroad Street Youth Project in Massachusetts, developing, coordinating, and facilitating alternative educational curriculums within a program. Selena Wong taught at the Berkeley Academic School for Youth, developing novel ways to provide an interpretive framework for young people to value entrepreneurship and understand what it means to create a start-up. Angela Hamati, who interned at The Children's Museum in Jordan, worked on developing marketing and communication strategies to increase youth presence at the museum. Finally, Epyana Smith interned at the Arts of East New York, participating in organizing that was committed to presenting, promoting and preserving multicultural arts as a way to address socioeconomic issues that hinder the growth and development of the East New York community. Everyone worked to expose the impact of poverty, sexism and racism using education in financial literacy as a method of attaining self-awareness and power within the community. We empowered youth through existing non-profit structures so that engaging with citizens' voices and stories is priority, the profits secondary.

Moderators

Joshua Roth

Speakers

Key Estime

The RYSE Program, Undecided

Key Estime is a first-generation, low-income student who has been involved in a local non-profit youth empowerment organization for seven years. As a high school graduate, Key could not afford private college. However, with the support of a mentor, they chose a community college to... Read More →

Angela Hamati

Cultivating Curiosity for Education., Economics and Nexus in Non-Profits Major

The increase in immigration rates and refugee populations led to my enthusiasm towards getting involved in non-governmental organizations and specifically focusing on advocating for the well-being and education for all ages. During summer, I interned at The Children’s Museum Jordan... Read More →

Epyana Smith

Psychology and Africana Studies Major

For the summer of 2017, Epyana Smith worked on the development team at a nonprofit organization named “Arts East New York” (AENY). AENY is based in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. AENY looks to support East New York through the arts; its mission is rooted in the... Read More →

Selena Wong

Encouraging Innovation in Youth, Economics Major

This summer, I served as a teacher’s assistant for the Berkeley Business Academy for Youth. In teams, my students were able to develop business plans for independent start-ups with capital for a product of their own innovation. For many students, this was the first opportunity they... Read More →

Friday October 20, 2017 4:45pm - 5:40pm
Clapp 407

Session V