RECAP: Spring ’14 Dean’s Internship Reception

By Dean’s Internship Coordinator Don Michael Mendoza

The bi-annual gathering of the Dean’s interns, SOC faculty, staff and students for an informational panel and reception – complete with amazing cupcakes from Whole Foods – took place this past Wednesday, March 26th in the newly opened SOC Media Innovation Lab in the renovated McKinley building. A total of more than 25 people were in attendance including 10 of the 14 Spring 2014 Dean’s Interns.

Cupcakes

Delicious cupcakes along with displays about the Dean’s Interns and Partnerships.

Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs Sharon Metcalf welcomed the crowd that also included students interested in becoming part of the program.

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Dean Rutenbeck (far left), Program Director Sharon Metcalf (left) and panelists (center)

The reception’s purpose was to honor the students who completed their internship program and the panel provided prospective students first-hand insight into the experience. Part of the celebration included SOC Dean Jeffrey Rutenbeck who presented each intern with a certificate of appreciation for their service and dedication.

The panel itself consisted of a representative from one partner organization and four students. This semester it was Leif Skillrud, an Associate Producer at National Geographic; Mary Bowerman, intern at USA Today; Yi Chen, intern at 88.5 WAMU-FM; Zach Cohen, intern at The Washington Post and Claire Shriver, intern at 1776, and it began with pre-determined questions from Metcalf followed by a question and answer portion and concluded with open networking over cupcakes. (Click here to see all the intern bios)

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(L to R) Program Director Sharon Metcalf, Intern Zach Cohen, Intern Claire Shriver, National Geographic’s Leif Skillrud, Intern Yi Chen, Intern Mary Bowerman

Skillrud and each intern gave invaluable advice to intern seekers in the room and with that our office looks forward to a new round of inspired students who will take on the goal of becoming a Dean’s Intern in the summer or fall.

“You only are required to work 15 hours a week, but sometimes you have to work outside of your hours. I don’t mind because I enjoy it!” said Bowerman about her experience with USA Today.

Interested in applying?

If you are a student interested in participating in the program, APPLY NOW because the deadline is Monday, March 31, 2014 at midnight EST. By clicking the link above, you’ll see the different opportunities available and also directions on how to submit your resume and work samples.

Remember, you must be a junior, senior, graduate student or recent graduate – graduated within the past year – and have to have attended American University for more than 1 semester to be eligible for consideration.

Please feel free to contact me, Don Mike Mendoza, at dmendoza@american.edu or come visit me in Room 215 in the SOC McKinley Building on the second floor.