Learning from each other: Employees and students share their internship stories

 

From learning about search engine optimization to studying behaviors of echolocating bats, University of Arizona interns and mentors have learned a lot from each other. In the stories below, your colleagues – as well as current and former students – talk about their experiences. (Some of the stories have been edited for length.)

Read about the importance and benefits of internships in this Lo Que Pasa story.

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Marissa Diaz
Program Coordinator | School of Geography, Development and Environment

In the Fall of 2023, I had the privilege of interning with the School Garden Workshop within the School of Geography, Development and Environment. This internship provided me with a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful work with community gardens across various Tucson Unified School District schools. My role involved collaborating with students ranging from elementary to high school, allowing me to witness firsthand the impact that community gardens can have on young learners.

My involvement was both hands-on and deeply rewarding. Engaging with students of different ages, I observed how their interactions with the garden fostered curiosity and a sense of responsibility. For younger students, the garden became a place of exploration and discovery, while older students often used the space for more complex projects or a safe space. 

Working with the School Garden Program has been transformative for me. It has deepened my appreciation for the natural world and reinforced the value of community involvement. The gardens serve not only as a source of fresh produce but also as a space for students to connect with nature and with each other. This connection is particularly important in today's fast-paced world, where opportunities to engage with the environment can sometimes be limited.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my internship was creating a safe and nurturing environment within the garden spaces. 

The garden program has helped ground me in many ways. It has provided a constant reminder of the beauty and value of the natural world, reinforcing the importance of environmental direction. The experience has also fostered a deep sense of community and belonging, both within the garden and the broader Tucson area.

Alexandria Hulslander
Alum | E-commerce Writer | BenQ America

I interned at Worlds of Words from Jan.-Dec. 2019. I started as the editorial intern, focusing on updating SEO content on the website, editing articles for publication, scheduling the articles and writing press releases on upcoming events. My second semester there, I continued this work while learning about social media management to create posts, manage accounts and interact with our audience.

While it has been years since I was there, I often reflect back on my time and reference it to others because I gained so much from that internship that it will always be an important part in my journey. The website and SEO management greatly benefited me as a creative for my blog and as a professional in my current job, because these base skills gave me a great starting point to build up my knowledge and utilize what I learned. The social media management built a strong base for the social media marketing I do currently, personally and professionally.

My time there was also filled with fun, bonding and support that I needed to get through tough times. It was a safe space to share and create and was my favorite place to be even after I completed my internship. I often think back about how I felt being there and hope that I can one day work in an environment that reminds me of WoW. I hope I can go back one day to visit, and that everyone who spends time in the library, as a regular student or intern, can find the same value and peace that I did. I will always share about how incredible WoW is and keep up with their online content.

Liz Marsalla
Career and Engagement Professional | College of Applied Science and Technology

When I was a student, I knew I wanted to work in higher education, but I wasn't really sure what area was a good fit. I connected with my internship coordinator and was connected to Megan Forecki, who at the time worked for ASUA and oversaw students organizing large events. As an intern, I became the Logistics Director for Family Weekend. I learned so much about campus policy and made contact with whom I am still in contact with as a UA professional. My first position on campus was coordinating recruitment events for the Honors College, which I am sure I landed because of my knowledge of campus events and the policy that surrounds them. I am still friends with my mentor and fellow UA employee, Megan Forecki, with whom I still get to work with as we both work in the Career & Engagement space on campus!

Chad Myler
Manager of Employee Health and Wellness Promotion | Life & Work Connections

My internship during my undergraduate work at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, for the student wellness department was so much fun! When I first began studying health promotion I didn't even know that the world of worksite wellness existed. This internship helped me hop into that world and I have been there ever since and accomplished a mini-goal of mine to work in a wellness department at a university later in my career like I am today. I also met my best friend during that internship and we continue to stay in touch today even though we are in different states and do family vacations with our spouses and kids.

Melville Wohlgemuth
Assistant Professor | Department of Neuroscience

The internship was virtual, so my student worked from his home in Chandler and we met over Zoom. His project examined the active sensing behaviors of the echolocating bat, and how the bat changes its vocalizations under different environmental conditions.

This is a wonderful experience as a mentor because it provides you with an opportunity to interact with young scientists and influence their perspective on research.  Scientific literacy is in need of help in this country, and the KEYS program provides an opportunity to expand the scientific community.

Stories submitted by students

Kylie Becker
Undergraduate Student | Eller College of Management

During my junior year at the University of Arizona, I began working as a marketing and communications intern for the University of Arizona Study Abroad office. As a student who has studied abroad multiple times and could not be more passionate about travel, this was my dream job. 

After working here for a little over six months, one of my supervisors, Rikki Mioduski, helped inspire and encourage me to take on a new exciting task: starting my own student blog column for the study abroad website.

I was instantly excited. I love helping other students learn about study abroad and sharing my perspective, so it was a natural fit.

Throughout the entire process of creating the column, Rikki has worked closely with me. From helping me brand the blog to workshopping article ideas, she has been endlessly supportive and an amazing mentor.

I named the blog column Ky Goes Global and am so excited to announce that my blogs began launching on the Study Abroad Website in June and will continue to be shared throughout the fall! Rikki truly helped me find a voice for my passion, as well as the perfect channel to share it.

Matthew Boylan
Undergraduate Student | College of Science

As a 2024 KEYS intern, I was placed at a lab in the Skaggs Pharmaceutical Sciences Center for my internship. Each day I would walk into the lab ready to work on a variety of different biological experiments aimed at investigating the potential link between three genes and harmful diseases such as cancer, ALS and Alzheimer's. Each day there was another process to be performed; the work never became repetitive. I was in charge of maintaining three different cell types with around a dozen plates to care for. I learned how scientists keep cells happy while they grow and develop. My lab has taught me so many important skills: communication, teamwork, problem solving and organization techniques. KEYS has shown me a completely different side of science that I had not considered up until this point. After my lab experience I am now thinking about potentially applying to pharmacy school. I am amazed by just how informative those few weeks have been. I am excited to officially become a Wildcat this fall and have the opportunity to continue working in the lab.

Michelle Hein
Undergraduate Student | College of Science

This past spring, I took part in the Bio/Diversity Project as a student teacher! I taught seventh graders at Mansfeld Magnet Middle School, which is right by Highland Market at the University of Arizona. In fact, my Thursday routine would include me waking up at 7 a.m., stopping by Highland to grab a cream cheese bagel, and then checking in to teach by 9 a.m.

Walking into the classroom was exciting every time. I loved that the kids always walked in with energy and questions – though, often the questions were not about science and instead about the TV shows we liked. Making connections with the students was by far among the most gratifying parts of the internship. 

Perhaps the most memorable person of the entire internship, though, was my co-teacher, Alyssa. She and I clicked right away, reflecting on our first-year college experience and relating to internship struggles. She, like everyone else I've met in the project, is kind, driven and inspiring.

It makes sense, because people like this can make the best teachers. However, I quickly learned that teaching demands more than being able to translate complex concepts. You have to know how to adapt when a lesson goes south and be engaging with your materials. 

What I enjoyed most about the Bio/Diversity Project was its focus on being culturally responsive. Teaching in Title 1 schools means that you're teaching students with less access to important resources. For that reason, it's more important to provide support that caters to their diverse backgrounds. To accomplish that, Alyssa and I ensured our curriculum was place-based and relevant to their experiences. I am so happy to say that after the project, I have come out a better teacher, student and human. 

Benite Luhando
Undergraduate Student | College of Science

I did the internship at the University of Arizona under the KEYS Research Internship program in the BIO5 Institute. I interned with Jacob C. Schwartz under a postgraduate student as my mentor, Ajibola D. Adelakun. I studied the role of cytoskeleton regulator RNA in Ewing sarcoma, the second-most aggressive type of bone cancer in kids and teenagers. As a recent high school senior, this experience stood out to me in many ways. It laid a foundation for my future research experience in the lab as well as ignited the passion for science, research and medicine in me. It taught me what to expect in a lab and patience as things don't go the same way as expected. These lessons will forever be cherished.

Srivardhan Nimmani
Undergraduate Student | Eller College of Management

During the summer of 2024, I had an incredible opportunity to work as a chassis analysis Intern at Volvo, where my role focused on leveraging data analysis to support our projects. This internship allowed me to merge my passion for management information systems with practical, impactful work.

A major highlight was developing Power BI dashboards, which became invaluable tools for our team. Power BI, with its powerful data visualization capabilities, enabled us to transform complex datasets into interactive and easy-to-understand visuals. My goal was to create a dashboard that streamlined data visualization and analysis, improving workflow efficiency and saving substantial time.

Working with Power BI was both fascinating and rewarding. I connected multiple data sources, cleaned and transformed the data, and crafted compelling visuals that emphasized key insights. This project required a deep understanding of the data and the ability to present it clearly and engagingly. It was thrilling to see how the right visualization could make data-driven decision-making more accessible and effective for our team.

The experience stands out for several reasons. Firstly, it was my first real-world experience. The internship provided me with hands-on experience in data analysis and visualization, reinforcing my technical abilities and boosting my confidence in handling real-world challenges.

Secondly, the collaborative environment at Volvo was exceptional. I worked alongside experienced engineers, all of whom were incredibly supportive and eager to share their knowledge. The culture of teamwork and continuous learning created an atmosphere where I felt comfortable asking questions, seeking feedback and experimenting with new ideas.

A particularly memorable moment was presenting my Power BI dashboard to senior management. The positive feedback I received was immensely gratifying.

In summary, my internship at Volvo was a pivotal chapter in my journey as an aspiring MIS professional.

Paige Wagstaff
Undergraduate Student | College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

My internship takes place in the Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, directed by Dr. Stacey Tecot in the anthropology department. My experience started in fall of 2023 and has been a great introduction into research and laboratory work in a wet lab. I was introduced to analyzing various hormones like oxytocin and cortisol and connecting them to behavior. I took topics learned in my anthropology and biological classes and ran my own experiments. This allowed me to create a research project during the spring analyzing oxytocin and early life trauma. I found a place with people who push me to think deeper and opened my eyes to research opportunities. I have created great relationships and friendships with my peers and mentors that I will cherish for a long time. We work hard and have a great time doing it. 

This opportunity also led me to apply and be accepted in the Undergraduate Biology Research Program for this summer, and I have been able to work on multiple projects and I will get to present my research from this summer and school year in January 2025. My work has included DNA extractions from lemur fecal samples to analyze the gut microbiome. 

The relationships and tools I have gained in LEEP has helped me find my passion for research and studying non-human primates. This work is very rewarding and allows me to gain a deeper insight into humans and why we behave the way we do. I feel so grateful to have found a place and to intern under such knowledgeable people and learn from their experiences and expertise. This internship has also given me the confidence to go further with my studies will aid in my future research I conduct. I am very fortunate that I was able to find a place I love and l always look forward to coming in each day.