Here is a sample of what International Studies majors did during summer 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Changyi Wang
Jiaxing, China
Changyi pursued her interests in both interpreting and global arts. She worked as an interpreter for the Chinese government, and she took an art history class online. (Pictured with mask.)
Zineb Benkirane
Fes, Morocco
Focused on international development and Africa as an International Studies major, Zineb interned virtually this summer with the global social, economic, and environmental impact investing organization CARBON. She researches which technologies offer the best STEM, reading, and other educational outcomes and then works to provide them to low income populations worldwide.
Nathan Ruhde
Aurora, Illinois
From his home in Aurora, Nathan conducted research for the global data project CoronaNet, which is recording governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. He gathered information about Qatar and Honduras. This experience was a good fit for his International Studies’ focus on global health and the Middle East and North Africa.
Riley Jiang
Fuzhou, China
Planning on a career in global health, Riley gained first-hand experience working in a doctor’s office in New York City, where she lived with relatives during the pandemic.
Grace Zhang
Carmel, Indiana
In addition to completing medical school applications, Grace co-created Phone-A-Friend in Carmel. Through this program local students checked in on 45 isolated seniors and obtained groceries and prescription refills for them. The initiative gave Grace experience with personal care and exposure to the challenges of healthcare accessibility in a marginalized community.
Hanna Paris
Falmouth, Maine
Hanna interned remotely at Refugees International, a humanitarian non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. She conducted research and interviews to highlight positive contributions resettled refugees are making within their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy Deneris
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Working from his home, Andy created 3-D images of building facades and analyzed their stability for a New York University research project. Pictured is an image of a statue Andy used for practicing the techniques. As an International Studies major, Andy’s focus is global environment.
Bobby Bruno
Brunswick, Ohio
Continuing as an intern at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, a private-sector economic development organization, Bobby assisted businesses and nonprofit organizations in finding technical and financial support. In the photo, Bobby is in the center, pre-pandemic.
J
ordan Deskins
Cardington, Ohio
Jordan researched how joint U.S.-Mexican labor unions could protect the rights of blue-collar workers in both countries. She conducted this research remotely for the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, an interfaith organization based in Cleveland.
Rong Fan
Shanghai, China
Focused on global business and Asia as an International Studies major, Rong interned at the Shanghai Stock Exchange (pictured). She conducted data analysis related to companies’ preliminary prospectuses and initial public offerings.
Olivia Thomas
Toledo, Ohio
Staying in Cleveland for the summer, Olivia investigated the effects of urbanization on biodiversity as a research assistant with the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and took classes at CWRU.
Anna Cormier
Amherst, Massachusetts
As an intern at the global labor rights non-profit organization, Verité, Anna translated factory audits and worker training documents from Mandarin to English. An example of a worker training is pictured.
Shanice Gitau
Dallas, Texas
As a virtual communications and fundraising intern for the non-profit, Manna Project International, Shanice worked with a small team to maintain social media pages, write grant proposals, and create a campaign for a microloan program serving low-income communities in Quito, Ecuador. In addition, she participated in a weekly language exchange with one of Manna’s Ecuadorian students and met with a Spanish tutor twice a week. (Pictured with English-language student.)
Jana Fisher
Elkhart, Indiana
Interning remotely at MedWish, Jana researched health problems in foreign locations where the organization donates used medical supplies and strategies to make sure donations are effectively used. As an International Studies major, Jana focuses on global health and Latin America.
Kasey Pukys
Canton, Ohio
Kasey developed connections with foreign and first-generation startup founders, their stakeholders, and universities for the startup accelerator program gBETA Cleveland, a cohort of gener8tor. She worked remotely from her home.
Dane Mizuno
Honolulu, Hawaii
Dane learned about business and politics as an intern at the Waikiki Improvement Association, which represents Hawaii’s resort district. He also enjoyed hiking and going to the beach with friends.
Ryan Arvizu
Franklin, Tennessee
Ryan interned remotely from Cleveland in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Office of the General Counsel. Also a computer science major, he worked on a template database that helps create notices of agency actions to be published in the Federal Register. He gained insight into the federal regulatory process and on-the-job training with different branches of the agency.
Sarvani Nori
Bridgewater, New Jersey
Sarvani completed a Facebook externship project in social media marketing. Through her research, she learned about the role of social media as a tool for businesses to connect with people on an international level.
Kimberly Osbern
High Point, North Carolina
Working from home, Kimberly researched homophobic legislation in Russia and its effects on the Russian LGBT population. She conducted research in both Russian and English, focusing primarily on the 2013 law banning gay propaganda and the 2020 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. A CWRU Rocks Experiential Learning Fellowship funded her work. (Pictured: Police detain a man at an LGBT rights rally in St. Petersburg in 2018, Reuters.)