Campus News

UGA students gain real-world experience through Honors Internship Programs

Athens, Ga. – Thirteen undergraduates in the University of Georgia Honors Program have been chosen for summer internships in Washington, D.C., New York and Savannah through the Honors Internship Program.

Since 2001, the Honors Program has provided participants the opportunity to explore more fully their academic interests and career goals by working 40 hours a week side-by-side with professionals in a variety of settings.Internship sites include congressional and law offices, media companies, think tanks, non-profit organizations and executive agencies.The interns undergo a rigorous selection process and receive stipends to offset travel and living expenses.

“Once again we have an exceptional group of interns and I look forward to hearing about all of their accomplishments this summer,” said Maria de Rocher, coordinator of Honors Programming. “We also are grateful for an increasingly active group of Honors Program alumni in these cities, serving as mentors to our students and exposing them to the wide range of career paths possible within their areas of interest.”

The summer 2011 participants in the Washington, D.C. program are sophomores William Gow of Roswell; Camille Gregory of Brentwood, Tenn.; Heather Hatzenbuhler of Lawrenceville; juniors Isabel Glaese of El Paso, Texas; Emily Gober of Sandersville; Eric Johnson of Tucker; Logan Krusac of Acworth; Morgann Lyles of Roswell; Chad Peltier of Cumming; and senior Jacob Shepherd of Newnan.

Sophomore Ebony Caldwell of Augusta and junior Hemali Vin of Export, Pa. are interning in New York, while sophomore Danielle Burnette of McRae will be working in Savannah.

Gow, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in finance and international business, is interning in the office of Rep. Jack Kingston. He has served as the community service committee chairman with UGA’s Interfraternity Council and spent last summer as an intern for the UGA and Arch Foundations. Gow would like to work in the investment banking industry.

Gregory, who is pursuing a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program in geography, is interning with Freedman Consulting. In preparation for a career as a human rights lawyer or human geography professor, she has conducted undergraduate research, most recently starting a geography project focused on human trafficking. Gregory also has served on the executive board of the Not For Sale student organization, which fights against human trafficking in the U.S.

Hatzenbuhler, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and environmental economics and management, is interning with the TV to Africa division of Voice of America, a multimedia international public broadcasting agency. As a Sierra Club student intern, she has worked on the Beyond Coal campaign, which advocates the use of alternative energy sources in higher education. Hatzenbuhler plans to attend law school and focus on environmental justice.

Glaese, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and education, is interning in the office of Sen. Johnny Isakson. Last summer she studied abroad in Spain and since her senior year in high school worked in law firms, including serving as a translator for Spanish-speaking clients. Glaese would like to teach English abroad and/or become an immigration lawyer.

Gober, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in psychology and public relations, is interning in the communications department of National Geographic. She has held public relations internships with UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Creative Consultants, a student-run firm in UGA’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Gober would like to pursue a career in healthcare communications or health promotion.

Johnson, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration, is interning with the National Association of Counties. He is currently a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program and was selected as the Wing Commander for fall 2011. Johnson would like to become a judge advocate and practice law for the U.S. Air Force.

Krusac, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in political science and Mandarin Chinese, is interning with the law firm of McKenna, Long and Aldridge. He spent the last year in China taking language courses as a recipient of the David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship. Krusac would like to pursue a career with the State Department or pursue a law degree.

Lyles, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in African American studies and French, is interning in the office of Rep. David Scott.For the last two years, she has served as founder and lead instructor for a program that provides SAT preparation and college admissions information to high school students in the community. Lyles would like to work in education reform as a teacher and administrator.

Peltier, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international affairs, is interning with the Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University. He has conducted undergraduate research under the guidance of UGA international affairs professors Brock Tessman and Jeff Berejikian. He also is involved with the collaborative social sciences research group Georgia Grand Strategy. Peltier’s goals include pursuing graduate studies in political science.

Shepherd, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and history, is interning in the office of Sen. Charles Schumer. While at UGA, he has served as president of the Demosthenian Literary Society and as a Security Leadership Fellow at the Center for International Trade and Security. Shepherd would like to pursue a career focused on working with private and public agriculture development programs, highlighting water issues.

Caldwell, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and behavior and a master’s degree in public health, is interning with Greater New York Hospital Association. With UGA health policy and management professor Monica Gaughan as her mentor, she has studied how the influences of undergraduate science majors impact their post-graduate educational decisions. Caldwell would like to pursue careers in medicine and health policy and management.

Vin, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, also is interning with Greater New York Hospital Association. She has studied abroad through UGA’s program at Oxford University in England and most recently traveled to Australia. Last summer, she was a public health intern with the East Meets West Foundation in Vietnam. Vin would like to become a dentist and study public health issues focused on oral health at the global level.

Burnette, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science, is interning with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. She has previous experience working on a local election campaign last fall. Burnette’s career goals include pursuing a law career, perhaps as a prosecutor.

For more information about the Honors Internship Program, contact Maria de Rocher at derocher@uga.edu.