麻豆破解版

lana cobo 鈥�27

Independent project

International affairs and German double major Lana Cobo 鈥�27 spent the summer capturing the complex legacy of post-conflict identity through photography. 

Her independent project, 鈥淎 Visual Journey into the Afterlives of Communism and War in Sarajevo,鈥� explores the remnants of communism and the 1990s war in her hometown of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visting sites and museums around the city, Cobo analyzed architecture, objects, and personal narratives to portray the layered identities that continue to shape her community.

As she immersed herself in the technical and creative challenges of visual storytelling 鈥� from mastering her first DSLR camera to curating hundreds of images into a cohesive narrative 鈥� she deepened her understanding of photography and explored her home and identity through a newly critical and artistic lens. 

鈥淚 gained experience of immense value in the field of photography and visual research, as well as getting to know my hometown environment in a whole new way,鈥� says Cobo.

Sara Hastie 鈥�27

Intimate Partner Violence Research鈥�

Social work and anthropology double major Sara Hastie 鈥�27 worked alongside Johanna Reiter, assistant professor and associate chair of social work, on research focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) and its broader impact on families and communities. 
 
When an unexpected scheduling conflict prevented her from participating in the Faculty-Student Summer Research (FSSR) Program, Hastie took the initiative to reach out to Reiter to explore alternative opportunities.
 
Through 麻豆破解版鈥檚 close-knit community as well as Reiter鈥檚 mentorship and support, Hastie was able to step into a unique research role that allowed her to engage with multiple aspects of IPV research. 

鈥淚 realized that one of the best ways to learn about your options is to simply ask for help and guidance, whether from a professor, friend, or the Career Development Center at 麻豆破解版. I am so appreciative of my wonderful professor who made such a great effort to support my learning.鈥� 

As a research assistant, Hastie contributed to a range of projects, including participant recruitment for a qualitative study; transcription, data analysis, and a literature review for a forthcoming textbook; and leveraging social media outreach to help expand survey participation, with the goal of reducing youth placement in foster care. 

Through this work, Hastie gained experience in collaborative research, data-driven problem-solving, and equity-centered inquiry 鈥� all with the mission of dismantling historically oppressive systems and empowering marginalized groups. 

"I gained a multitude of skills that have enhanced my career readiness for post-graduation life. More than anything, this summer experience has encouraged me to dive deeper into the world of research, particularly how to apply research to real-life issues at the intersection of science, advocacy, and community impact.鈥�  

Sara Hastie 鈥�27

Aidan Smith 鈥�28

Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps

For Aidan Smith 鈥�28, soon to declare an English major, working as an emergency medical technician with the Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps (EVAC) was a transformative experience. Though he learned that he would prefer to pursue teaching rather than medicine as a career, he developed skills that will serve him on any path. 
  
Over the summer, Smith worked with the nonprofit emergency medical services agency that serves the communities of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe, New York. He responded to 911 calls throughout the region, assisting paramedics and fellow EMTs with taking vitals, performing evaluations, and transporting patients. He also conducted inventory checks on ambulances and entered patient data into the agency鈥檚 system. 
  
Each day brought new challenges and opportunities for Smith to expand upon his skills 鈥� including critical thinking, teamwork, and communication 鈥� and his confidence in the field. 

鈥淭he job demands sharp critical thinking and the ability to adapt to changing environments,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen treating and transporting patients, we work closely as a team to ensure their health and safety. I believe my communication improved immensely 鈥� I had to speak up and make important decisions in high-stakes situations.鈥� 
  
Beyond technical skills, Smith鈥檚 summer at EVAC offered valuable lessons on leadership and professionalism.

"Working with EVAC gave me incredible experience in the medical field 鈥� and while I've realized now that a career in medicine is not for me, the skills I鈥檝e learned this summer will stick with me for the rest of my life and undoubtedly carry over into my future career pursuits.鈥� 

Aidan Smith '28

Claire Pupa 鈥�26

Independent project

Studio art major Claire Pupa 鈥�26 built and expanded her personal brand, Claire Pupa Art, with support from the Summer Experience Fund.

She leveraged both in-person and digital networking to gain inspiration, knowledge, and connections that would elevate her work and expand her artistic reach. 

鈥淢y tasks included keeping a detailed journal of inspiration from the shows and openings I attended, networking with local artists, and building my online presence,鈥� she says. 鈥淎 particularly meaningful connection was with artist Caryn Martin, who offered invaluable advice on studio spaces, graduate school, and self-employment.鈥�

 To strengthen her online presence, Pupa prioritized consistent content and intentional engagement, posting three times a day on social media. Her combined creativity, business development, and digital strategy grew her following to over 1,000, allowing her to create monetized content and reach a broader audience.

Another major milestone was the launch of her website, which features her portfolio, CV, and online shop. 

鈥淟eading a self-directed project required me to evaluate progress, adapt to setbacks, and pivot when new opportunities arose,鈥� she says. 鈥淎ttending art openings refined my ability to discuss art verbally, while social media taught me how to present my work in ways that encourage engagement.鈥� 

With this experience under her belt, Pupa plans to pursue more collaborative opportunities in the future to build on what she gained as an independent artist and business owner. 

鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to my faculty advisor, Elizabeth Dubben, to the donors who made this opportunity possible, and to the artists who shared their insight throughout my journey.鈥�

Rowan McKinney-Ring 鈥�27

Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park 

Rowan McKinney-Ring 鈥�27, an environmental science major and a creative writing minor, has always had a love for teaching, and this summer he had the opportunity to expand upon that passion as an education intern at Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park.  

The preserve, which sits on Haudenosaunee land, is dedicated to environmental education, recreation, and conservation of local wildlife 鈥� including the endangered Karner Blue butterfly.  

McKinney-Ring discovered the opportunity through the Environmental Studies and Sciences (ESS) job fair, which connects students with local environmental organizations. 

Throughout the summer, he gained experience in curriculum development, outdoor education, and field research. He developed and led 鈥淣ature Arts Hour,鈥� a weekly program for children that combines ecology lessons with creative art activities, and taught science-based lessons at local day camps and led field trips to the preserve.

Alongside his teaching work, McKinney-Ring earned the opportunity to conduct field work in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and PRISM.  

The experience deepened his understanding of Indigenous land stewardship, shaping how he approaches both education and conservation.

"I will take every experience I鈥檝e had at Wilton Wildlife into my professional career. I feel confident in taking on more leadership roles in the field, especially when it comes to community involvement and education.鈥�

Rowan McKinney-Ring '27

Sara Burr 鈥�25

DC Grays Baseball 

Sara Burr 鈥�25, a biology major and physics minor, spent her summer in Washington, D.C., with the DC Grays, a collegiate summer baseball team that competes in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.  

After joining the team in 2023 as a photography intern, she returned this summer as the head intern 鈥� a leadership role that placed her at the center of the team鈥檚 operations.  

Burr touched nearly every part of the organization 鈥� from delegating tasks to fellow interns to prepping the field and press box, managing social media and game-day photography, updating the team鈥檚 website, and keeping daily operations running smoothly. She also live-tweeted games, wrote post-game summaries, and served as the liaison between interns, coaches, and media personnel.  

鈥淭his role gave me valuable insight into the world of sports media and operations. It was a fast-paced and often unpredictable environment, and I had to stay flexible and organized at all times.鈥� 

Burr wasn鈥檛 simply learning critical thinking 鈥� she was practicing it. 

"I wasn鈥檛 just observing, I was actively participating and leading. I had the independence to make real decisions and see them through. Critical thinking is a must in live sports settings where things don鈥檛 always go to plan; you have to think on your feet without disrupting the game. This internship deepened my interest in sports media and gave me the confidence to pursue it further.鈥�

Sara Burr '25