Students Realize Dreams Through Innovative Summer Internships
Grant funding through W&L's Johnson Program allows student recipients to pursue passion projects and career development around the world.
summer opportunity
Lending a Helping Hand
Washington and Lee students gain new perspectives after internships through the Shepherd Program.
Bishop ’26 and Gibbons ’26 Awarded CIE Arabic Summer Scholarship
Washington and Lee's Center for International Education awarded two students funding to study Arabic at the University of Jordan this summer.
Meet Estrella Burks-Parra ’23
W&L’s distinctive summer programming helped Burks-Parra develop her personal and professional interests.
Summer Opportunities: Off the Beaten Path
Washington and Lee students blazed their own trails this summer to pursue their passions.
In Case You Missed It
Summer Opportunities: Internships Abroad
Despite challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, many students were able to travel this summer for valuable professional experience in other countries.
Summer Opportunities: Summer Research Scholars and the Office of Community-Based Learning
Student participants stay in Lexington to develop research techniques and obtain valuable work experience.
Summer Opportunities: The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty Internship
SHECP internships provide work experiences that are impactful for both the students and the communities they serve.
Stepping Stones in STEM
Bonner Kirkland '23 conducted biomedical research this summer in the Children’s National Hospital’s Department of Genetic Medicine.
Pursuing Her Passions
Aishwarya Vemagiri '25 hopes her summer research experience on diet-induced obesity will lead to a career in the medical field.
Rooted in Justice
Kiera Stankewich ’25 tackled food justice in Louisville, Kentucky this summer through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty.
Moving Fast with Meta
Collin Frazey ’23 spent his summer working for Meta's intellectual property team in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Levelling Up in London
Brendan Smith ’24 worked in the British House of Commons as a parliamentary research intern in London.
Finding Her Calling
Kristina Ayers '25 is interning at a medical clinic for the homeless in Washington, D.C. through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty.
Summer in the City
Margaret Witkofsky '24 is researching grants for the city of Lexington, Virginia through her internship with the Office of Community-Based Learning.
Becoming a Better Scientist
Lucy Worthy ’24 is conducting clinical research and shadowing a physician at the Mayo Clinic.
‘Digging’ into a Summer Opportunity
Marcus Payne '25 is spending his summer doing geology research with Professor of Earth and Environmental Geoscience Jeffrey Rahl.
Classically Liberal Arts
Kayla Monaghan ’24 is collaborating on a Summer Research Scholars (SRS) project to enhance resources available through Leyburn Library.
Adding Value
Diwesh Kumar ’24 is developing investment banking expertise at his summer internship at Boxwood Partners in Richmond, Virginia.
Exploring the Media Landscape
Lily Mott '23 is interning this summer at News Over Audio in Dublin, Ireland, where she is finding fulfillment at the intersection of politics and journalism.
‘One Step Closer’
Sarah Burd ’24 is spending her summer working for a medical technology company in Vienna, Austria, that specializes in prosthetic limbs.
Making Meaningful Impact
Eric Bazile '25 is interning with the Austin Greater Chamber of Commerce through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP).
Summer of Hands-On Research
Bridget Osas ’25 is researching behavioral impacts on the development of metabolic syndromes like obesity.
Into the Wild
Caroline Wise '23 is spending her second summer working as an alpine guide in Alaska.
Meet a W&L Scholar: Lane Johansen ’22
Johansen plans to head to Eastern Europe after graduation to serve Ukrainian refugees.
The Write Stuff
Maya Lora has always wanted to be a storyteller for public good. This summer, she did just that as a reporting intern for her hometown paper, the Miami Herald.
Thriving On New Turf
As the only intern for the Arena Football League's communications coordinator, journalism major Jimmie Johnson '20 has been able to pitch and create his own multimedia content.
London Calling
For students like Lourdes Arana '21, the London Internship Program combines course work, internships and alumni support to create an unforgettable educational experience.
A Goal in Mind
Working with ICU patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the Allen Grant has reaffirmed neuroscience major Laney Smith's desire to become a surgeon.
Studying Neuroscience Down Under
Megan Engeland '19 spent her summer in a research laboratory in the psychology department at the University of Sydney in Australia.
Summer in Germany
Mark Donohue '19 spent the summer working as a software engineering intern at a company called AGCO, located in southern Bavaria.
Confronting Cancer with Research
Erin An '19 has spent time this summer researching immunotherapy treatments for pediatric cancer at the University of Virginia.
‘A Seriously Huge Operation’
W&L Campus Kitchen summer interns practice leadership development through community service.
Opening New Doors
Catherine Savoca ’19 explored the real estate development industry this summer as a sales and marketing intern in Lisbon, Portugal.
Summer in Kyrgyzstan
The Critical Language Scholarship Program has allowed Riley Ries '19 to strengthen his Russian and learn more about politics and culture in Kyrgyzstan.
Practical Tools for the Future
Yoko Koyama '19 put her W&L learning to work this summer at National Instruments Japan.
Growing in German
Jackson Ellis '19 is working with a German consulting agency to help international student-athletes navigate the college application process.
Informed by Child’s Play
This summer, Davis Straske '19 is researching children's play in psychology professor Megan Fulcher's Gender Development Lab.
‘Many Different Perspectives’
Students in the Cape Town Summer Internship Program gain professional experience and a better understanding of South Africa’s culture.
Where Math Meets Art
Xinxian Wang '21 was able to marry two interests in an internship with The Visual Arts Center in Richmond.
Sustainability in Stockholm
During a four-week internship with Enact Sustainable Strategies in Stockholm, Julia Carullo '20 has been inspired by Sweden's dedication to sustainability in business practices.
Falchuk ’18 Awarded Fulbright to Teach in Slovak Republic
Hannah Falchuk '18 hopes to improve her cultural understanding and language proficiency in the country.
Zainab Abiza ’19 Awarded Summer Fellowship to Princeton and Davis Projects for Peace Grant
She will attend the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Princeton followed by a service project in Morocco.
Elizabeth Mugo ’19 Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship
Mugo will attend the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon.
Oh, the Places They Went!
Whether doing research on campus or traveling across the world for internships and projects, W&L students made the most of summer 2017. In the new year, we invite you to take a look back at everything they accomplished.
Energized by Research
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed engineering students Alfred Rwagaju '18 and Kennedy Gibson-Wynn '18 to spend the summer studying hydroelectric power in Rwanda.
‘A Beautiful and Complex Country’
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Tiffany Ko '20 and Jiwon Kim '20 to study religion in South Korea during summer 2017.
From the Classroom to the Capitol
Sutton Travis '19 gained a wide breadth of journalism experience as a summer intern at Texas Monthly magazine.
Engineering Solutions for Amputees
Matt Lubas '18 spent the summer in Zacapa, Guatamala, working at a prosthetic clinic for the Range of Motion Project.
Cultivating a Social Media Presence
Elora Fucigna '19 completed an internship in social media and marketing for Ground Floor Farm, an urban farm in her hometown of Stuart, Florida.
All Up In Wilmington’s Business
Elly Cosgrove '19 stayed busy this summer with internships at the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and WECT (Channel 6).
Speaking with Confidence
Julia Poppenberg '19 spent the summer as a translator in Guatemala, helping doctors and patients alike and learning to "talk strong."
Focus on the Environment
Ellen Kanzinger's summer internship allowed her to work on films for the nonprofit GroundTruth Project in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Call of the Wildebeest
Jack Miller '19 has spent his summer in the bush of South Africa, learning about wildlife and conservation - and having a few close calls in the field.
A Special Summer in Special Collections
Chandler Wickers '18 has spent her summer as a researcher in Special Collections, where she has been exposed to fascinating materials and learned how professors and students can take greater advantage of the collection.
Career Paths: Tyler Sanderson ’18L
Tyler Sanderson '18L, a graduate of Centre College from Henrico, Virginia, spent the summer working for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary in Washington, D.C.
Career Paths: Brian Wagoner ’18L
Brian Wagoner '18L, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill from Burlington, NC, worked this summer for the USAID Governance for Inclusive Growth Program in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Career Paths: Matt Donahue ’18L
Matt Donahue '18L, a graduate of George Washington University from Benicia, CA, worked this past summer in the Office of the General Counsel at Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, CA.
Career Paths: Austin Woodside ’18L
Austin Woodside '18L is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He spent the summer working for the International Legal Foundation in Nepal.
Career Paths: Lizzy Williams ’17L
Lizzy Williams, a 3L from Austin, Texas, graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in History and a Certificate in International Relations. Lizzy is Co-President of the Women's Law Students Organization, a Burks Scholar, a Student Attorney for the Criminal Justice Clinic, a Lead Articles Editor on the German Law Journal, and a Research Assistant for Professor Todd Peppers.
Career Paths: Kit Thomas ’18L
Kit Thomas '18L spent her summer at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center, a non-profit trial level death penalty organization located in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Centre College and is interested in a career in capital defense and criminal justice.
Career Paths: Bo Mahr ’17L
Bo Mahr '17L spent the summer working for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Office of the General Counsel as a Law Clerk. At W&L Law, Bo serves as vice-chair of the Moot Court Executive Board.
Career Paths: Ashley Slisz ’17L
Ashley Slisz is from Williamsville, New York and graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations. At Washington and Lee she is the 2L Vice-President of the Student Bar Association and a staffwriter on the Washington and Lee Law Review.
Summer Experience: Emily Tichenor ’16L
Law Changes Lives at Compassion International.
Career Paths: Amanda Fisher ’16L
At W&L, Amanda is a Law Ambassador, Student Bar Association 3L Vice President, Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment staff writer, and a member of the Women's Law Student Organization and the Powell Lecture Board.
Career Paths: Paul Judge ’16L
Paul Judge went to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant out of ROTC. He is now a 1stLieutenant in the United States Army. He plans to enter the JAG Corps after graduation. At W&L, he is a Lead Articles Editor on the Washington and Lee Law Review.
Career Paths: Elaine McCafferty ’16L
Elaine McCafferty is from Newtown, Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Psychology and Philosophy. Elaine is a Burks Scholar and Lead Articles Editor on the Washington and Lee Law Review.
