Internship showcase highlights impactful summer experiences

Service & Community

Over 150 undergraduates shared their experiences at the third annual Fall Internship & Applied Learning Showcase.

Jaenya Cooper '26 discusses her Charles Center City Research Scholars internship with Phil Heavilin, director of internships & applied learning in the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement Aug. 29 in Sadler Center. (Photo by Samuel Li)

The following story originally appeared on the Charles Center website. - Ed.

Over 150 undergraduate students who spent the summer pursuing their passions through impactful internships and research shared their experiences at William & Mary's third annual Fall Internship & Applied Learning Showcase Aug. 29 in Sadler Center.

Hosted by the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement (OCDPE), the event was divided into five sessions and featured presenters across 28 majors.

It primarily highlighted the work of students funded by OCDPE's Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences (FUSE), the Charles Center, the Reves Center for International Studies, Whole of Government Center of Excellence and Strategic Cultural Partnerships.

"This showcase is a chance for students to share what they've learned, how they've grown, and to give other students a chance to see what's possible," said Phil Heavilin, director of internships & applied learning in the OCDPE.

According to Heavilin, the financial support provided to these students opens doors to valuable real-world opportunities in historically underfunded fields, such as education and human services.

"Experiential learning provides a complement to the classroom," he said. "Learning occurs in a variety of different settings, and the more you can connect those different contexts, the richer the learning."

One presenter was economics major Maddie Mohamadi '27, a Charles Center Journalism & Democracy Fellow, who worked for The Virginian-Pilot as a business and features intern.

Throughout the course of the summer, Mohamadi researched and reported on over 22 stories related to local economic activity. These included a mixture of shorter-term pieces and longer-term investigative reports, such as one on how tariffs affect home building in the Hampton Roads area.

"Some of the major highlights were when I was able to interview Sen. Mark Warner during a talk about a $50 million local business loan fund, as well as contributing to the Pilot's No Kings coverage in Yorktown, Virginia," said Mohamadi.

For Mohamadi, the experience provided by the internship was invaluable.

"It was such a great experience to be able to add to my portfolio," she said. "It really helped me solidify my interest in journalism and determine the path I want to take after graduation. I'm an economics major, but I love journalism too, so this was the perfect way to combine my interests."

Me'Sharlia Fountain '28 stands in front of the restored Williamsburg Bray School during her Sharpe Action Research internship last summer. (Courtesy photo) Maddie Mohamadi '27 interviews Virginia Sen. Mark Warner while on assignment for her Charles Center Journalism & Democracy Fellowship internship with Virginia Media last summer. (Courtesy photo) Elayna Hurley '26, one of dozens to receive support through the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement's Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences (FUSE) program, presents on the impact of her experience at the annual Fall Internship & Applied Learning Showcase Aug. 29 in Sadler Center. (Photo by Adeline Steel)

Sharpe Community Scholar and biology major Me'Sharlia Fountain '28 participated in a Sharpe Action Research internship with the William & Mary Bray School Lab. Over the summer, Fountain researched and mapped African American educational efforts from 1619 to 1863, linking historical records to geographic locations.

The experience gave Fountain the rare opportunity to explore and advance her interests outside of her primary studies.

"My career path is biology and pre-med, but I also want to research topics like African American history and mental health," said Fountain. "This internship set the foundation for my future work, and I learned so much."

Psychology and public health double major and FUSE recipient Elayna Hurley '26 interned at Bread for the City, a public health nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. Hurley revamped the organization's court-mandated volunteer program, creating a new orientation and intake process to establish expectations and streamline the system.

"It definitely made me more confident in my ability to take initiative and problem solve, especially managing so many people," said Hurley. "Working in Southeast D.C. was such an eye-opening experience - seeing the immense lack of access to resources people have, but also the amazing spirit of the community."

With FUSE support, Hurley was able to complete the internship without worrying about financial constraints.

"This internship was an amazing experience, but as a small nonprofit, it wasn't paid. The FUSE funding made me able to participate in the internship without sacrificing my financial freedom," she said.

The showcase highlighted the vast possibilities students are exploring over the summer, connecting their academic interests with potential career pathways. Their presentations sparked curiosity and inspiration among those who attended.

"This showcase is really a William & Mary community event," said Heavilin. "We have students of all class levels across many majors, faculty, staff, alumni, donors - it really is a celebration of learning at William & Mary, and it's fun to see students' faces light up when they talk about what they did over the summer."

Interested in being a part of next year's Internship & Applied Learning Showcase? Learn more about summer opportunities with the OCDPE, the Charles Center, the Reves Center and Strategic Cultural Partnerships.

Jane Valadakis, Charles Center

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