A Postcard From: Shiwei Zhu ’19

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zhu1Name: Shiwei Zhu

Year: 2019

Major: Psychology

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going!

This summer, I interned at the Office of Environmental Management and Services at the School District of Philadelphia. In June, the School District released the exciting sustainability management plan, GreenFutures. It has 5 focus areas, namely Education for Sustainability, Energy and Efficiency, Waste and Consumption, School Greenscapes and Healthy Living, Healthy School. My projects included integrated pest management (for asthma reduction), chemical management, promotion of energy education and hydration stations. I also attended a lot of meetings which allowed me to witness the progress of GreenFutures and understand the importance of partnership.

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How I heard about my internship:

I first heard about internships related to sustainability from my roommate, and got emails from Biology professor and Environmental Studies Newsletter. There were even info sessions at New Dorm Dining Hall.

Why I applied for my internship:

I was very interested in environmental protection and sustainability. I thought it would be wonderful to help promote sustainability among schools and actually see how people accomplish it.

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A Postcard From: Sanam Sheriff ’18

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420093_268868123258488_791909664_nName: Sanam Sheriff

Year: 2018

Major: Creative Writing

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going! This summer I interned with the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. PYPM is a volunteer-run non-profit organization that provides a safe space for Philadelphia teens to discover the power of their voices through spoken word and literary expression. What was most appealing to me about this program is the way in which the political and personal held hands through poetry. I worked with a group of teenagers that had competed in poetry slams throughout the season to qualify for the PYPM team that would represent Philadelphia in an international poetry slam festival called Brave New Voices to be held in Washington DC at the end of the summer. Along with helping set up the organization’s database, I was working with the youth, helping them perfect their poetry and performance, and travelled with them to the competition. As we practiced, our days stretched until 10:30 PM 6 days a week, and my supervisors were committed to create and maintain not only a safe space for the kids, but a productive one in which their own personal and political struggles and stories found a voice and platform. Watching them grow over the summer into the fierce and powerful human beings that took the DC stage by storm was both rewarding and inspiring. Most of all, developing meaningful relationships with them, learning about their lives and witnessing the empowerment that comes along with community art in a space where the marginalized facets of their identity were allowed to shine, was nothing short of amazing.

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Why I applied for my internship:

I came to know about PYPM by being involved in the spoken word poetry scene in Philadelphia. The community of poets is so tightly knit and open to newcomers, that a few weeks at slams and open mics got me well acquainted with the people and programs. I applied for this internship because I think there is something so incredibly powerful about poetry that transcends day to day activism. The thing about spoken word is that it provides a platform for personal politics to not only be shared, but for people to be engaged and educated at the same time. There is an urgency to the art form that I think is absolutely perfect for youth who are just coming into owning their identities and the stories that come with them. As a poet and creative writing major myself, this was the perfect opportunity for me to learn and grow and challenge my own definitions of writing and performing. I wanted to engage with community through a lens I was passionate about, and this was the perfect fit.

A Postcard From: Rina Patel ’18

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img_1526Name: Rina Patel

Year: 2018

Major: Growth and Structure of Cities, Minors: Political Science and Environmental Studies

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

This summer has been a blast! I have the honor of being a 2016 Scholar of the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) for South Asian American students. This program selects 10 students every year to participate in Federal Internships to encourage members of our community to enter Public service. My Placement through WLP was at the U.S Department of Education, Office of the Secretary.

Finishing my last week of the WLP experience there was a lot to reflect on. For me in particular, my biggest takeaway from this summer is that my faith in the system has been restored. I’m not 100% sure what I was expecting going into this summer. I had done an externship through Bryn Mawr on Capitol Hill this winter and was not really convinced I was supposed to come back to DC this year. I saw the frustration and pain the Congresswoman’s office had because it felt there was a lot of hurdles to the change we wanted to achieve.

A photo taken when some interns snuck into the secretary’s conference room.

A photo taken when some interns snuck into the secretary’s conference room.

However, being at the U.S Department of Education reminded me about what it means to be part of a larger mission. I’ve never been in an office that is full of people so dedicated to ensuring there is a better future and better opportunities for our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Additionally, I have never been in an office as diverse as the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Education. Very often DC is portrayed as an old man’s club where gridlock on the hill prevents real change from happening. What interning at ED has shown me and taught me is that real change still happens in DC, and that there are people dedicated to finding solutions and serving as much as they can.

Another big reflection I was having this final week has to do with how lucky this class of WLP was to have the opportunity to serve in this administration during its final summer. We got to witness how much goes into final efforts for change before the administration switches out, or in EDs case might not even return. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain This summer has just been filled with such meaningful opportunities and I will always be grateful to WLP for the opportunity to immerse ourselves in public service and for LILAC for making it possible for me to take advantage of this.

The 2016 WLP scholars with the Honorable Judge Srinivasan, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, one of the highest positions to be held by a South Asian America, he also is one of the only appointees to have been confirmed by the senate almost unanimously at 97-0.

The 2016 WLP scholars with the Honorable Judge Srinivasan, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, one of the highest positions to be held by a South Asian America, he also is one of the only appointees to have been confirmed by the senate almost unanimously at 97-0.

My signed photo with Secretary John King.

My signed photo with Secretary John King.

A Postcard From: Mariam Khoudari ’17

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dsc_0091Name: Mariam Khoudari

Year: 2017

Major: International Studies

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going! This summer, I interned for Greentree Brokerage Services, Inc, which is an investment banking firm in Philadelphia. My experience at Greentree has been very enriching, as I have developed many skills in accounting, finance, and management. Furthermore, I experienced what it is like to be in a small firm and how that affects the way one works and collaborates with one’s co-workers.

How I heard about my internship: I was interested in finance internships in the Philadelphia area. I learned about the internship at Greentree by conducting the appropriate research on various internship platforms and referrals.

Why I applied for my internship: I applied for my internship because I wanted to learn more about the world of finance, specifically that of investment banking. Interning at Greentree has allowed me to do just that, and more! The small size of the firm allows me to be a much more important participant in the everyday work of the firm, rather than just a mere observer, or being in charge of clerical work that would not teach me anything about investment banking.

A Postcard From: Maeve White ’18

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img_7525Name: Maeve White

Year: 2018

Major: Anthropology and Film and Media Studies

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

Today (July 29th) was my last day working at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Professor Monique Scott, head of the Bryn Mawr museum studies program. I was doing audience research in the “Creative Africa” show, specifically focusing in the “Look Again” exhibit, which is comprised of historical objects from the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. I tracked visitors in the gallery, following them around to see what they visited and how they engaged with the exhibit. I also conducted interviews with audience members.

Working with Professor Scott and the museum staff was a really interesting and unique experience. I was simultaneously working on two research projects: one about the effectiveness of the new style of labels being used in the exhibition, and the other about the representation of Africa in museums. Alongside traditional object labels, the exhibit has large wall panels with questions that prompt visitors to look closer at the art and see what can be gleaned from close looking. I loved working with both the Penn and the PMA and getting to hang out in such an amazing setting all the time. It’s also been really interesting to hear and see how visitors use the space in such an unusual and exciting exhibit. I’ve learned a lot about audience research and the museum world, and my summer has been full of fun and art.

A picture of the “Power Figures” in the exhibit that I took while pretending not to follow visitors.

A picture of the “Power Figures” in the exhibit that I took while pretending not to follow visitors.

I’ve been working with another Bryn Mawr anthropology student, Dani Roomes, and they’ve been a wonderful partner and friend. I’ve become more familiar with Philly and I know I’ve formed great working relationships with museum staff in many departments. The independence they’ve allowed our research project has been phenomenal, and it’s really helped me see the many joys of academic work as well as museum work.

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Dani, Monique, and me in the main hall of the exhibit!

A close-up of one of the power figures.

A close-up of one of the power figures.

A Postcard From: Priyanka Dutta ’17

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10011584_10204090355524687_2140025705120488884_oName: Priyanka Dutta

Year: 2017

Major: Psychology

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

For my last summer as a Bryn Mawr student, I got an internship conducting psychological research for Prof. Egan Brad at the University of Portland. I was lucky enough to able to administer these cross-cultural studies in my home city of Mumbai. There were two main research projects that we worked on, one was studying the differences in decision making with regard to intertemporal sequencing and the other looked at ‘Moral Licensing’, a phenomenon that suggests that the recollection of prior moral behaviors boosts one’s moral self-concept which leads them to believe that the previous good deeds offsets current bad deeds. In addition to conducting these surveys, I also got to research the literature on these topics in the hopes of finding support for our hypotheses.

After searching for a suitable research internship for an international student I was lucky to have this opportunity fall in my lap. A friend recommended me to this Professor who used to teach us at Bryn Mawr. She was very encouraging and accommodating and even made it possible for me to work from home, in India.

I was particularly interested in a cross-cultural research opportunity as I am going to be a senior psychology major and will be writing my thesis in the same area. While I am still trying to figure out which field of psychology I wish to take up in the very near future, I knew that in order to keep a doctorate in psychology a viable option, getting more experience in research was crucial. This research in particular was unique in that it let me get my hands dirty and be a part of the research process from the very start. It has given me a lot insight into what this field is all about and has positively influenced my decisions about the future.

A Postcard From: Indu Upadhyay ’17

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pic2Name: Indu Upadhyay

Year: 2017

Major: Anthropology

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

I had a great time working for ‘The Global Fund for Children’ this summer. It is a non-profit organization operating around the world with its headquarters in Washington D.C. I found this internship through LanternLink. GFC has a special relationship with Bryn Mawr, as their founder was an alum and they take mawrters as interns every summer. They usually take one Bryn Mawr intern but this year they made an exception and took two. All the more fun for me, as I got to live and work with a close friend. That made the learning experience just double. I have always been interested in international development and GFC’s grant making as well as capacity building work was just what I wanted to be involved in. I not only learnt about operating a new database management software called GIFTS but also participated in all general programs team meetings to get hands on knowledge of the organization’s administration. I was assigned to two very well structured projects and given significant responsibility to work independently. I honed my basic data analysis skills and also understood the complexities of investing in social entrepreneurship in developing countries. More than anything the thought provoking nature of the job satisfied my thirst for critical thinking and the eventual direct benefit of our decisions going to people who need it back in countries like my own, was very emotionally fulfilling.

Work was not everything that made my summer awesome. D.C has become my favorite city in the U.S. now. I made so many friends through my Bryn Mawr contacts there and went out every weekend. I did kayaking on the Georgetown waterfront, went hiking on the Appalachian trail in Virginia and ate out at a dozen amazing restaurants each month. On the whole, I couldn’t have asked for a better summer experience and I am so thankful for getting this opportunity.

Celebrating a colleague’s birthday over lunch near the White House.

Celebrating a colleague’s birthday over lunch near the White House.

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City Hopping with new D.C. buddies.

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A Postcard From: Shreekari Tadepalli ’18

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portrait1Name: Shreekari Tadepalli

Year: 2018

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

This summer, I’m interning at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford, England. I spend my days working in a molecular cardiology lab with an incredible and diverse set of labmates, and my nights and weekends exploring the beautiful university town I live in. There’s truly history everywhere I go, from The Eagle and Child, where two of my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, used to chat over a pint, to the Holywell Music Room, the oldest music hall on campus, where I recently attended a concert. It’s amazing to be working and learning in this environment, surrounded by world-renowned experts in my field – and a stunning campus that’s always inspiring me to reach for new heights.

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I’m interested in pursuing medicine, so this experience is invaluable to me in terms of narrowing down what I want to do, and how. I’m finding myself increasingly interested in the basic science research aspect of medicine, and this internship is really nurturing that growing passion. The relationships I’m building with my supervisors, some of whom are MD/PhDs themselves, balancing both clinical and laboratory medicine, enable me to figure out whether this is the career path for me. The support and mentorship I’ve had throughout the past several weeks has definitely been the highlight of my time here, and I can’t wait to learn and grow further.

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A Postcard From: Swati Shastry ’18

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img_0452Name: Swati Shastry 

Year: 2018 

Major: Political Science

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going!

I’m currently interning at the Women’s Centre of Montgomery County (WCMC), a nonprofit focused on freedom from domestic violence and abuse. We service over 4,000 survivors per year through 24/7 hotline counseling, court advocacy, legal advice, and support groups. I was involved in all of these aspects and I also worked with the Head of Community Education and presented to a number of high schools, colleges, and old age homes in Montgomery County about recognizing signs of abuse. If there is anything I’ve learned over the past 10 weeks, it’s that domestic violence has no age, race, class, or gender and it doesn’t look just one way.

swati1Last week, I was at the Democratic National Convention with my colleagues from the Women’s Centre tabling at the Convention with a number of other social justice and community based organizations. I was able to talk to over 250 people about what the Women’s Centre does and how committed we are to ending domestic violence. Being able to communicate with people and having strangers open up to me about the most traumatic experiences of their lives affected me in a way that I will never forget and it has contributed to my personal as well as my intellectual growth.

How I heard about my internship:

As part of LILAC’s Summer of Service program – a cohort of ten students selected to live together in Batten House and pursue a service-oriented internship – I heard about the Women’s Centre through Rasha Younes, who had previously interned at the Women’s Centre as well as been a Summer of Service participant. I knew I wanted experience in the nonprofit sector, and being able to delve into women’s rights was a perfect fit.

Why I applied for my internship:

I applied to work at the Women’s Center because domestic violence is an issue all around us. As soon as I knew I was going to be working there, I felt like I saw domestic violence everywhere I looked (Johnny Depp, the Orlando shooter, the list goes on). Domestic violence stems from long-standing and systemic cultures of misogyny, rape culture, and The Patriarchy. While it doesn’t just affect women, it is important to understand that 1 in 3 women are affected by physical abuse, and this is not counting mental, emotional, and psychological abuse. Through the center, I was able to get a close look at how court proceedings work and get comfortable with some legal jargon and since I am considering going to law school. I am also interested in public service and I’ve been thinking about how policy making at the federal level affects funding for non-profit organizations. It was also great to be able to explore Philly with a monthly SEPTA pass – I explored hidden parts of the city that I probably will never go back to but I enjoyed every moment of it.

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A Postcard From: Ariane Marchis-Mouren ’17

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10406755_10152932193659330_3090793059518439749_nName: Ariane Marchis-Mouren

Year: 2017

Major: Economics, Minor: International Studies

What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.

This summer I am interning at the Multilateral Development Banks/International Affairs office of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C. The Department of the Treasury is an executive agency of the United States’ federal government and is one of the largest financial institutions in the world; its main mission is to promote economic prosperity and ensure the financial security of the country. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) provide financial support to developing countries in order to support their economic growth. The Treasury’s role with MDBs is to engage the United States in the global development agenda, and ensure the effectiveness of MDBs’ interventions by pressuring these institutions and suggesting policies. My job here is to help and assist my coworkers with their projects and assignments, such as loan review and memorandum drafting for project proposals or loan disbursements. I have also been learning about the international development infrastructure and how the U.S, through the Treasury, funds, monitors and manages the substantial U.S. equity position in MDBs.

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I have really enjoyed the opportunities available to me outside the office. The Treasury has organized many events, guided tours, informational meetings and training courses for interns; I was able to go through basic Haver and Bloomberg trainings, to learn more about different offices and opportunities at the Treasury for graduating students, and to attend very informative ‘Brexit’ talks organized in the wake of the U.K. referendum.

As an Economics major and International Studies minor, choosing between a career in the public sector or in the private sector is something that has come up very often during my job searches. I have previously worked in two different commercial banks and have been exposed to the private sector, but I wanted to know more about the different opportunities for economists in the public sector. The Treasury seemed like the perfect fit for getting to know the financial aspect of public service.

Washington, D.C. is an amazing city that has so much to offer: from Sunday brunch at the Harbour to free-admission Smithsonian museums and art galleries, my time outside of the office has been well spent! I was actually born in Georgetown, but my family moved to France when I was four years old, so I am gladly rediscovering the city with a newfound appreciation of its historical and cultural gems. Aside from the fascinating assignments I am fortunate to be working on, I have to admit that my favorite part of this internship is being able to walk through the White House entrance every morning, after showing my I.D. to the U.S. Secret Service in front of the herd of tourists on Pennsylvania Avenue. There is really nothing like being nodded on by the Secret Service.

P.S.: I haven’t had the opportunity of taking a selfie with POTUS or FLOTUS (or even Sunny and Bo) yet, but I have three weeks left and I still have my hopes up!

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Q&A with Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew.