internships

Summer internship lets George �鶹��Ƶ student help kids discover the joys of STEM

Katarina Benson — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 17:47:16 +0000

Summer internship lets George �鶹��Ƶ student help kids discover the joys of STEM Katarina Benson Thu, 07/31/2025 - 13:47

For Ryanne Mardini, the humanities and STEM go hand in hand. The criminology, law and society major's summer internship with WorldStrides has taken her across the United States, inspiring young scholars to explore the world of STEM through hands-on learning opportunities.

Mardini credits her humanities coursework for laying the necessary groundwork for her success as an advisor and ultimately strengthening her relationship with her students. Learn more about her unforgettable experience where she discusses her path to interning with WorldStrides, her advice to her fellow students, STEM's relationship to the humanities, and more!

Where is your summer internship, and what is your title?

I am an advisor and scholar support for “Pathways to STEM,” an Envision program by WorldStrides. I travel all around the U.S.

What are your main responsibilities on the job?

I have the rewarding role of guiding and encouraging young scholars as they explore the exciting world of STEM through hands-on learning. I support students throughout their adventure by helping them engage in activities such as dissecting calf hearts to learn about anatomy, building robots to explore engineering and coding, and designing rollercoaster rides to understand physics and motion. My goal is to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and ensure each scholar feels supported and empowered as they discover the possibilities within science, technology, engineering, and math.

Can you tell us more about where you traveled for your internship?

I had the opportunity to travel to American University in Washington D.C.; Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania; University of Dallas in Dallas, Texas; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee; and finally, Rice University in Houston, Texas. I worked with a different group of scholars every week. They never failed to surprise me with their large minds and enthusiasm to learn!

How have your George �鶹��Ƶ courses contributed to your success in your current internship?

I've taken a variety of courses that have strengthened both my scientific knowledge and communication skills. On the STEM side, I completed classes like nutrition, communication, and a variety of math courses, which provided a solid foundation for understanding scientific concepts and data. On the humanities side, I’ve taken communication and psychology, which really enhanced my ability to think critically and explain complex ideas in accessible ways—skills that are essential when supporting students during STEM activities.

How does your humanities major interconnect with the STEM aspects of your internship?

The humanities aspect plays a huge role in making STEM more relatable and human-centered. Through studying subjects like communication and psychology, I’ve learned how to approach STEM not just as a technical field, but as something that deeply impacts people and communities. This perspective helped me connect with the kids during the program—understanding how to communicate with empathy, encourage curiosity, and create a supportive learning environment.

How did you find your internship?

I found my internship through Handshake, a website for college students to find internships and job listings.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned as an intern?

Be patient. Not everything is going to go as planned, so pivot!

What advice would you give students about getting the most out of their internship?

Ask questions and do not be afraid of putting yourself out there!

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These George �鶹��Ƶ alumni were driven to succeed with a premier NASCAR race team

Shayla Brown — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:53:55 +0000

These George �鶹��Ƶ alumni were driven to succeed with a premier NASCAR race team Shayla Brown Fri, 07/25/2025 - 09:53

You could say Dave Alpern, BA Speech Communication ’91, started at the bottom of the corporate ladder when he joined Joe Gibbs Racing.

Dave Alpern. Photo provided.

In 1993, Alpern landed an internship with the company. As he recalls, his office was a broom closet complete with an elementary school desk, an extension cord, and a lamp.

But that didn’t put the brakes on his enthusiasm.

“Being an intern [at Joe Gibbs Racing] was really special because I really had to earn it. I have this principle of delivering more value than you're paid, and that’s what I did,” said Alpern.

Fast forward to today: the �鶹��Ƶ alum is the president of the organization and recently made a cameo appearance in the Netflix series, NASCAR: Full Speed, which documents NASCAR teams as work as they race to win the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the two most successful teams in NASCAR racing, so clearly if they do a show on the sport, we're going to be a part of it in some way.”

Alpern may have had the inside track at the company as the best friend of Jason Dean “JD” Gibbs, the son of the company’s founder, Joe Gibbs, but he had to earn his way into every role. Alpern has held nearly every position in the front office and witnessed the company grow from a team of 18 employees to more than 500, including 50 engineers and an aviation department.

Around the office Alpern was known as “the T-shirt guy” because of his dedicated work in merchandise and consumer products.

Alpern was named president of the JGR in 2016 during the illness and eventual death of his friend JD in 2019.

“When he got sick and passed away, I was named president and essentially took my best friend's job for his family's business, which was very difficult,” Alpern said.

Coach Joe Gibbs (left) and Dave Alpern. Photo provided.

Now Alpern is also sharing some of the things he’s learned during his time with JGR. He’s written a book, Taking the Lead: Winning Business Principles That Fuel Joe Gibbs Racing, with all proceeds going toward the JD Gibbs Legacy Fund, in honor of his friend.

While Alpern was navigating the growth of JGR, his colleague and fellow George �鶹��Ƶ alum, Chris Helein, BA Speech Communication ’91, was following a parallel path.

The summer before his senior year, Helein got a full-time internship with the Washington Commanders in the organization’s public relations department, where Joe Gibbs was the head coach and led the team to three Super Bowl victories.

“Thankfully my professors were pretty understanding. That experience was my introduction into the world of PR and communications on that front. I really enjoy being part of an organization as opposed to the journalistic side,” said Helein, who followed Gibbs to JGR and has now been at the organization for 17 years.

Helein, who is vice president of communications and partner activation at JGR, credits George �鶹��Ƶ for giving him the tools he needed to begin his career. While on campus, he got involved in WGMU, the campus radio station, and Broadside, the student newspaper.

Chris Helein at Daytona. Photo provided.

“George �鶹��Ƶ had a tremendous amount of assets for me from the location of the campus to the connections in different fields. It [provided] incredible opportunities regardless of the industry you want to work in,” said Helein.

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George �鶹��Ƶ grad explores environmental management strategies

Katarina Benson — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:24:09 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ grad explores environmental management strategies Katarina Benson Fri, 06/13/2025 - 16:24

For Northern Virginia native Ryan McIntyre, the path to a master’s in environmental science and policy at �鶹��Ƶ began with something simple: a love for the outdoors and a family connection.

Ryan McIntyre. Photo by Office of University Branding

While attending Northern Virginia Community College, McIntyre was introduced to a job opportunity in the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience through family friend Cindy Smith, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy who runs George �鶹��Ƶ’s program with Fairfax County Public Schools.

“I liked being outside, so I took the job,” McIntyre said. That decision would plant the seed for a future dedicated to conservation and environmental policy.

After completing his associate degree, McIntyre said George �鶹��Ƶ felt like a natural next step. He enrolled in �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program working on degrees in environmental science, a decision that would shape his academic and professional future.

“The accelerated master’s set me on a research path,” McIntyre said. “I don’t know where I would have ended up otherwise.”

McIntyre with blue crab. Photo provided

That research path led him to a recent fellowship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). His work focused on invasive aquatic plants, specifically Trapa bispinosa, a species of water chestnut known for its ability to rapidly spread across the surface of freshwater bodies.

“There’s a history of this genus in the U.S. going back to the 1940s,” McIntyre explained. “One species took over much of the Potomac River, and it took years to eradicate.”

Now, with a new species surfacing in Northern Virginia, the U.S. Army Corps brought McIntyre on board to study how local, state, and federal agencies are managing the threat. His master’s thesis centered on observing the management techniques of different organizations, including Fairfax County Park Authority and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. “It became an observational study comparing their management techniques, how effective they are, and how they compare to each other,” he said.

This blend of environmental science and government is no coincidence. When McIntyre earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from George �鶹��Ƶ, he did so with a minor in public policy. “It was clear to me that you can’t protect the environment without the law,” he said. “I can do all the science I want to, but unless there is legislation in place, I don’t think we’ll make a lot of progress.”

That philosophy inspired his leadership as president of the George �鶹��Ƶ student organization Science Policy Network, which works to bridge the divide between policymakers and scientists. The group organizes social and professional events that bring together students from both fields.

One of the most defining moments of his time at George �鶹��Ƶ was a semester at the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation (SMSC). “It reset the course of what I wanted to do and changed my perspective on nature and ecology,” he said.

For someone who grew up memorizing environmental trivia and enjoying time outdoors, McIntyre said it was the first time those passions were recognized as valuable academic assets. “There were a lot of skills I had that I’d never applied in an academic setting before,” McIntyre said. “That experience showed me how my knowledge and interests could contribute to a deeper understanding of ecology and biodiversity.”

That semester working alongside Smithsonian Institution scientists at SMSC in Front Royal, Virginia, led to two internships for McIntyre. One summer he spent hunting for Virginia orchids in Shenandoah and identifying plants that grow around them, “in an attempt to understand the factors that make these hyper-specialized blooms call particular areas home.”

The next summer he found himself aboard a boat in the Chesapeake Bay counting fish as part of an internship with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. There he served as an intern liaison between the Fisheries Conservation Lab and the center’s public-facing education department.

“My background as a science communicator got me a role turning the FishCon’s work into lesson plans for the public,” he wrote in an essay about his experience for a Smithsonian Magazine blog.

As he prepares for the next chapter, teaching as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College, McIntyre hopes to inspire a new generation of environmental leaders.

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Criminology student interns at an adult detention center

Shayla Brown — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:28:26 +0000

Criminology student interns at an adult detention center  Shayla Brown Thu, 04/24/2025 - 16:28

When �鶹��Ƶ junior Megan Miller toured the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center, she didn’t realize she was being interviewed for an internship position. 

“It was a tour group of about eight of us, and we went into it very excited. For once, I wasn’t shy; I was talkative and outgoing, which is good because they were essentially evaluating us to see if we’d be a good fit for the environment,” said Miller, who is a criminology, law, and society (CLS) student in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and connected with the center through a CLS Internship Expo.

Megan Miller (back right) at a session in the detention center. Photo provided.

“No resumes were required. It was simply based on how we spoke and acted during the tour. I had never toured a jail before, but it was something that I was interested in because I do plan to work professionally in a prison or correctional facility one day,” she explained. 

 Miller interned from August to December 2024 in the center’s classification department and worked with inmate visitation and reentry programs, such as the center’s GED courses.  

 “They have different tiers in the adult detention center. [For example] orange is [maximum] custody, blue is middle custody, and green is lower-level crime. The classification department ranks where inmates should be placed based on their crime and prior offenses,” explained Miller. “It’s one of the most important jobs in the center, because if someone is classified wrong there could incidents that lead to injury or death because of it,” she said. 

Megan Miller. Photo provided.

 As someone who hopes to work with inmates on their reintegration into society after incarceration, Miller said she was fascinated by the center’s mental health facility. 

“I think that having a mental health unit in any type of correctional facility is extremely beneficial,” said Miller. “I hope to one day work with mentally ill inmates, evaluating their mental state and trying my best to understand mental illness and its correlation to crime.”

 Miller obtained this internship as a result of CLS professor Catherine Dobson’s CRIM 479 Introduction to Internship and CRIM 480 Internship courses. 

 Dobson is also director of the department’s internship program.  

 “Students are much more likely to have jobs after graduation if they do an internship, and many times the internship itself turns into a full-time job. [In the course] we do all the foundational work of putting together strong resumes with transferable skills and working closely with George �鶹��Ƶ’s Career Services because they've got lots of great resources for the students,” said Dobson. 

 “Students will have a fixed idea of what they want to do, so I introduce them to different local, state, and federal options, and also nonprofit and private sector options. George �鶹��Ƶ has a lot of great partners throughout the community for our students to reach out to,” Dobson said. 

Megan Miller (left) and her roommate, Sophia Figler. Photo provided.

Miller said they attended the internship expo as a class and were given the opportunity to speak to different organizations including the Fairfax and Loudoun County sheriff's departments.  

“I took the most interest in the adult detention center because of the sergeants who were there speaking that day. My roommate and I gave them our names, and we actually did the internship together,” said Miller. 

After she graduates, Miller hopes to continue her education at George �鶹��Ƶ, earning her master’s degree in criminology, and become a full-time officer at the center.

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Business analytics alumna from Russia finds home at Costello

Greg Johnson — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:58:33 +0000

Business analytics alumna from Russia finds home at Costello Greg Johnson Tue, 04/15/2025 - 17:58

Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Marina Komarova, MS Business Analytics ‘24, knew she wanted to get a business degree from a respected American university.

Marina Komarova. Photo provided

She had earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Russia, which included a semester as an exchange student in Finland. �鶹��Ƶ had met all the criteria she was looking for—most notably a top business college in a prime location. Not yet confident in her English skills, Komarova entered through the INTO �鶹��Ƶ program, which really helped her transition going to school in a new country.

Currently, Komarova is a business analyst at CakeBoxx Technologies, a company that designs and manufactures shipping containers for high-valued oversized types of cargo. Before accepting the position, she worked at the company as an intern while still studying at the Costello College of Business.

Securing the internship was a critical milestone for her. Because of her status as an international student, Komarova found herself under increasing pressure to find a job position or risk leaving the country. After speaking with career services, attending multiple networking events, and refining her online searches, she found CakeBoxx.

“At that point, they had this position that was called a supply chain business analyst intern,” she says. “It was honestly everything that I was looking for in my first internship because I have a background in supply chain, and I was studying business analytics.”

Komarova enjoys how flexible her job is and how it requires both statistics and interpersonal skills. “You need to know how to communicate with different kinds of people from different industries and how to actually put your ideas into words,” she says. Much of what she learned from her Costello business analytics program she was able to apply instantly to her job. “The knowledge I got from classes like marketing analytics predictions is helping me every day in my job. We have very customized solutions for different industries, so we need to do our marketing research and find out who can be our potential clients and how we can make them interested in our products.”

As an international student at George �鶹��Ƶ, Komarova never felt out of place or like she did not belong. “My experience was great professors and university staff,” she says. “Everybody was very helpful and very welcoming.” She also thoroughly enjoyed the campus culture outside of the classroom and how the university was constantly holding events not only for academic interests and professional development but also for fun social gatherings. “The social stuff actually helped me a lot,” she says. “I was worried a lot that I wouldn’t feel like I belong here, but that was not the case.”

Marina Komarova has come a long way in a short amount of time. “It’s been a crazy journey with some ups and downs, like from the moment when I was freaking out that that I wouldn’t be able to secure a job to the point when I graduated,” she says. After overcoming uncertainty and bettering herself, she is thriving in a new country and in her career.

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Computer science major uses multiple internships to prep for dream career in tech

Katarina Benson — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:27:11 +0000

Computer science major uses multiple internships to prep for dream career in tech Katarina Benson Wed, 04/09/2025 - 14:27

�鶹��Ƶ computer science major Nasrin Ali has a unique accomplishment—she has completed two internships with Microsoft and begins her third this summer. She was part of the Xbox team, first as a product manager and software engineer explore intern and then as a software engineering intern. This summer she’ll be a technical program management intern.

Ali's interest in computer science began in sixth grade in Prince George’s County, Maryland, when she participated in Technovation Girls, a program that teaches girls to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders through learning to code mobile apps. She fell in love with the subject. In high school she participated in Columbia University’s Girls in STEM Initiative, Kode with Klossy, Exelon STEM Academy, Google Code Next, Jane Street Unboxed, and Google Computer Science Summer Institute. Recognizing her high level of motivation, she joined George �鶹��Ƶ's Honors College upon admission.

When she was a freshman at George �鶹��Ƶ, a LinkedIn recruiter found her profile and reached out to her to encourage her to apply to the Microsoft Explore internship program. The program, a 12-week summer internship designed for freshmen and sophomores that focuses on software development, changed her life.

Ali at Microsoft. Photo provided

“My internships didn’t just shape my career—they shaped me.” she said. “They gave me clarity, connections, and experiences I never would’ve gotten otherwise. I learned so much about my work style, what actually excites me, and the different types of work I can see myself doing long term. And beyond just personal growth, you get to do work that actually matters. Seeing something you worked on ship, getting feedback from real users, or just knowing you contributed to something bigger—it’s a crazy feeling.” At Microsoft, she worked on front-end development. Her teams created an AI-generated game description feature for Xbox.com and worked to improve user experiences and Xbox’s game concept submission process.

Ali is also extremely involved on campus, which she credits with improving her confidence and people skills. She has served as president of the National Society of Black Engineers, president of Minorities in Computing, vice president of the Black Student Alliance, and secretary of the Black, African, and Caribbean Heritage Coalition. She was also a student athlete, serving as coxswain of the women’s rowing team, and a Resident Assistant.

“To me, these organizations mean everything. I am very passionate about art, STEM, and community building. Being a part of them, whether as a leader or a member, has allowed me to advocate for underrepresented communities in the STEM field, build communities on campus, and bring opportunities to my peers,” she said.

Alongside her school and work commitments, she’s a part of Rewriting the Code and ColorStack, nonprofit organizations that focus on uplifting minorities in tech, is a mentor in the Head Start organization, and works as an EduTutorVA tutor. She is also a participant in Break Through Tech’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning Program, where she worked on a project for Nestlé and is currently competing in the Equitable AI for Dermatology Challenge that focuses on building AI models that promote fairness in dermatology.

In the future, she hopes to find a career that combines what she loves: tech, law, creativity, and giving back. “And on a more personal note, I fully plan on having a really nice garden in my yard.”

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A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:28:40 +0000

A Passion for the Past Pays Off: History Buff Christine Peretik's Timeless Internship Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/09/2025 - 08:28

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Christine Peretik is no stranger to hard work and unexpected opportunities. A senior at �鶹��Ƶ in the Schar School of Policy and Government, she is majoring in government and international politics with minors in both history and criminology, law and society.

Christine Peretik: ‘You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.’ Photos provided.

But it was her passion for the past that landed her a fascinating internship at the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center in Fairfax, Virginia, a role she initially applied for on a whim.

“I had applied for it, not expecting much,” Peretik said. “I was very interested in it, but I didn’t know if it was going to turn up. And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.” (Let that be a lesson to all students considering internships. Help is here.)

Peretik’s work at the Historical Records Center placed her directly in the midst of history—literally. Housed in what was once the clerk’s office, the center holds an extensive archive of documents, from land records to court proceedings, and even a Fairfax Court Slavery Index compiled by a former �鶹��Ƶ student.

“We have obituaries and just about every court proceeding you can think of,” Peretik said. “Even crimes that were committed back in the day, just about everything people went through.”

One of her main tasks was analyzing old court cases, which appealed to her higher ed interests, from government to history to law.

“My manager asked me to identify who was the victim in these cases,” she said, explaining how she often had to interpret the documents handwritten in the 1800s on the fly. “I had to go back over each letter, like, ‘Okay, this is how they write an A. This is how they write a T.’”

Beyond deciphering faded vintage calligraphy and researching legal documents, Peretik also contributed to the center’s public exhibits, which are displayed around the historic courthouse and judicial center. She helped create content for a walking tour that takes visitors through key sites, such as the Legato School, one of Virginia’s early schools, now a museum. Students attended the school between the 1870s and 1930 and is now furnished to mimic the look and feel of an 1870s schoolhouse.

“We also have a little stone slab from the Spanish-American War era,” Peretik said. “People believe it marks a grave, but neighbors say it was actually a cat named Clem.”

Peretik’s enthusiasm for learning and history is palpable.

“I am a huge, huge history nerd, for lack of a better word,” she admits. “I watch documentaries for fun. That’s one of my things.”

Christine Peretik: ‘And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.’

Despite her love of history, Peretik’s academic focus remains on government and law.

“I want to work in the government someday,” she said. “Maybe the Department of Justice, or Homeland Security. I’m keeping my options open.”

Among her outside-the-classroom experiences at George �鶹��Ƶ include working as a telecounselor for the Admissions Office. She’s also been an active member for three years of the International Buddy Program, which pairs domestic students with international students “with the whole purpose of forming connections between the two.”

Peretik’s decision to attend George �鶹��Ƶ was an intentional one. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her family relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, over a decade ago. She considered other universities but ultimately chose George �鶹��Ƶ for its unique balance.

“It’s the hub for government,” she says. “You’re right near D.C., but also far enough away to have a real college experience.”

As she prepares to graduate in May, Peretik reflects on her time at the Schar School and the internship that deepened her appreciation for history.

“It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. “You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.”

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Internships and Influence: Schar School Senior Dylan Morse Reflects on His College Career

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:58:22 +0000

Internships and Influence: Schar School Senior Dylan Morse Reflects on His College Career Andrew J Schappert Tue, 03/18/2025 - 09:58

In This Story

Sita Nataraj Slavov

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Vermont native Dylan Morse didn’t get to tour his future college campus before enrolling. The pandemic had shut the world down during his senior year of high school, leaving him to rely on virtual research from his home in Hartland.

Dylan Morse, left, and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont): ‘Join Democracy Lab if you can,’ Morse said. ‘It’s an immediate community source for friends and can help navigate the ropes of college when you first come here.’ Photos provided.

But he knew what he was looking for, and he found it at �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

With its proximity to Washington, D.C., its impressive national rankings, and a news-making faculty, the Schar School seemed like the right fit for a student drawn to politics and public service. Now, as he approaches graduation, Morse reflects on the experiences that have shaped his path and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

A public administration major, Morse quickly immersed himself in government work, in and out of the classroom. His first taste of the political world came during back-to-back summer internships in Vermont’s centrist Republican Governor Phil Scott’s Montpelier office, where he assisted with constituent services and research for the State Workforce Development Board. The position called for Morse to respond to calls from Vermonters and connect them with government resources; he also recorded citizens’ opinions. The experience helped him see firsthand the impact of local governance.

Last spring, he interned on Capitol Hill for Vermont’s Democratic Senator Peter Welch. The role was similar in some ways—fielding constituent calls and drafting correspondence—but it also introduced him to the complexities of federal policymaking. He gave tours of the Capitol and contributed to policy work, particularly in the area of agriculture.

The contrast between state and federal government became clear to him. While they occasionally intersected—such as in Vermont’s response to last summer’s devastating floods—he realized they serve distinct roles, and he found himself drawn to the immediacy of state-level governance.

“The state and federal governments generally serve very different purposes, which was a very helpful insight into Federalism,” he said. “I think my long-term goal is to become involved in state government. I find it to be more hands-on and more personal. And you can be a bit closer to real change and making a difference.”

Dylan Morse: ‘I think my long-term goal is to become involved in state government. I find it to be more hands-on and more personal.’

Since his freshman year, Morse has been a part of the Democracy Lab Learning Community, first as a participant and later as a resident assistant (RA) of the Democracy Lab residence hall for three years. His leadership there reinforced the importance of civic engagement and professional development, while also providing him with a tight-knit community of like-minded students.

Beyond government, Morse has sought a well-rounded education. This semester he stepped into the world of lobbying, interning at Mehlman Consulting in Washington, D.C. The experience allows him to see how outside groups influence policymaking.

“It’s a little more corporate than my other internships,” he said. “I’m seeing the other side of the Hill from that perspective.”

His primary responsibility has been gathering information on newly elected representatives and their staffs, a crucial task in shaping legislative strategy for clients.

Academically, Morse is completing a capstone research project on the impact of pandemic-era migration to Vermont on housing prices. Working with Professor Sita Slavov, he hopes to contribute meaningful insights into a growing concern in his home state.

As graduation in May approaches, Morse hopes to gain direct experience with how policy affects constituents before returning to Vermont to work in state government.

While his ultimate goal remains public service, he values the diverse experiences he’s accumulated—from answering calls in a governor’s office to analyzing policy in a senator’s office to now observing the influence of lobbying.

For incoming students looking to study government at George �鶹��Ƶ, Morse’s advice is simple: “Join Democracy Lab if you can,” he said. “It’s an immediate community source for friends and can help navigate the ropes of college when you first come here. And you’re getting extra content about professional development, career development, and how to best use your time at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“All of that has been super valuable to me.”

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Bioengineering major pursues his career goals with internships

Katarina Benson — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:51:24 +0000

Bioengineering major pursues his career goals with internships Katarina Benson Wed, 01/15/2025 - 15:51

�鶹��Ƶ bioengineering student Andy Gomez is a busy guy. Not only is he working on a year-long internship with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), he is also a part-time clinical research assistant at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

For the internship with the NNSA under the Department of Energy in Aiken, South Carolina, Gomez is working on classified government projects. So you might wonder how much he can say about his work.

“What I can talk about is [my work] on nondestructive assays. We use new gamma detectors to measure nuclear material, trying to make sure there's no theft and insider threat because we work with weapons-grade nuclear material every day,” said the senior College of Engineering and Computing student.

“If it works accurately in our tests, then we can pretty much use that as our new base now under the NNSA,” he explained.

Gomez hopes the hybrid internship, through the Minority Serving Institution Internship Program (MSIIP), will be a stepping stone to a government position with a biomedical focus. MSIIP is an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) program that brings in students from minority serving institutions, including George �鶹��Ƶ.

Gomez works on the continuous monitoring and detection of theft and diversion of nuclear material.

This project could revolutionize nuclear safety, security, and emergency response, said Gomez. It can also help monitor radioactive sources used at power plants, particle accelerators, and hospitals, prevent nuclear proliferation and terrorism, clean up and remediate contaminated sites, and respond to disasters like the Fukushima accident in Japan.

In June, Gomez and his team spent two and a half weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Sandia National Lab, which is where he met and drove Spot, a four-legged robot dog that detects and maps radiation in any environment and is in the works for providing mobile monitoring in real-time.

They also visited the Los Alamos National Lab, well-known for being the work space of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.

“It was such an exciting experience touring all of these locations and seeing places that were particularly impactful to my field,” said Gomez.

More locally Gomez is working with computed tomography biomarkers as a part-time clinical research assistant at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax.

“Growing up, I was captivated by the stories of physicians and researchers unveiling their latest innovations to treat illnesses and discover treatments,” said Gomez. “I felt a sense of awe at the sheer possibility of what human ingenuity could achieve, and I wanted to be part of the effort to bridge the gap between technological engineering and medical needs.”

Ingenuity can be a “powerful reminder of the resilience of life and the importance of finding ways to support that resilience through innovation,” he said.

Gomez has taken two biomedical classes at George �鶹��Ƶ: Bioengineering 437/537 Medical Image Processing with Associate Professor Vicky Ikonomidou and Bioengineering 360 Biomedical Imaging with visiting Inova physician Jason Yeo.

Gomez credits these courses with preparing him for his work with nuclear medicine, X-rays, photoelectrons, protons, gamma and the movements of alpha-beta particles.

“Like many students, Andy initially struggled in my class, but through perseverance, dedication and a positive attitude, he was able to overcome may difficulties and successfully complete the course,” said Juan Raul Cebral, who taught Gomez in Bioengineering 230.

“These are necessary qualities for a good engineer and scientist—hard working, passionate about the work and learning, perseverant and focused—and they all apply to Andy,” he said.

One thing Gomez will take with him from these experience into his future professional endeavors is the importance of communication.

“We have to have open lines of communication constantly, especially within the government,” said Gomez. “People are contributing work to different kinds of projects, and it’s important to update our team members and others about our progress in order to make as big of an impact as we can with the work we’re trying to do.”

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Checking in to a “suite” internship with Marriott International

Sarah Holland — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:34:55 +0000

Checking in to a “suite” internship with Marriott International Sarah Holland Wed, 01/15/2025 - 09:34

When business major Kyle Samuel went to �鶹��Ƶ’s Fall 2023 Career Fair with a list of companies to speak with, he didn’t realize he would land an internship that would kickstart his career.

With a legacy connection to Marriott hotels through his father, who worked for Marriott at the property level, a chat with the Marriott representative led to securing a competitive spot as a finance HQ intern with Marriott International.

Now, in addition to completing a summer internship with Marriott, Samuel is working part-time for the hotel company and making plans to return in summer 2025 for a second internship.

Kyle Samuel (left) with Marriott founder's grandson, David Marriott. Photo provided.

Why did you choose George �鶹��Ƶ?

There are a couple of reasons why. First, it’s close to home and within my culture we try to live with our parents even after we’re 18. So that was important to me. Affordability was a major aspect, too, because staying home saves some tuition. George �鶹��Ƶ’s Costello College of Business is also great and well-established, especially compared to other schools in the region.

What inspired your interest in finance?

In junior year of high school, one of my uncles recommended the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. And that opened my eyes to how much personal finance matters in your life. I started reading more, like The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William N. Thorndike, Jr., and my interest just took off from there.

How did you find out about the internship at Marriott?

Through the career fair at George �鶹��Ƶ. I went into the fair with notes about each company I was interested in, and Marriott was on the list. I spoke with the representative, and we really connected. She told me about the internship—I didn’t know that Marriott offered internships—and she recommended that I apply.

It’s funny, whenever someone asks me about the career fair, I tell them I have a 100% track record, because I went to one fair and got an internship from it!

What did you do during your summer internship with Marriott?

Some of my major projects were conducting reviews of around 50 capital expenditure budgets from Marriott Select brands to ensure compliance and accuracy, checking the integrity and translation of data from Excel sheets to visualizations, and helping a senior manager send out revenue share allocations to select brand owners.

I also participated in a competition with the other interns where we were given a real-life business challenge that Marriott is facing, and we had to design a potential solution. So we brainstormed ideas for improving Marriott Bonvoy sign-ups among the Gen Z demographic.

One of the things I really appreciated about my internship is that I wasn’t just doing internship work that wouldn’t go anywhere once I was done: I was doing projects with impact.

How have your experiences at George �鶹��Ƶ prepared you for your internship?

Many classes gave me the foundations I needed to succeed at my internship. BUS 210 Business I and BUS 310 Business Analytics II were really helpful because it allowed me to strengthen my Excel skills, and BUS 103 has helped improve my professional development skills.

University Career Services also played a monumental role. They helped me establish my resume, create my LinkedIn profile, and prepare for the interview with Marriott.

Kyle Samuel (right) with Anthony Capuano, current CEO of Marriott. Photo provided

What would you say is the importance of an internship?

School does prepare you for the workplace, but there’s really no substitute for actually experiencing a workplace. Understanding office culture, learning the hierarchies, networking; you can only really learn those soft skills through being in the workplace. And networking is so valuable. I’ve had a meeting with the CEO of Marriott because I was able to network with the former intern, who connected me to the right people.

Where do you hope to be in ten years?

My long-term goal is to become the CFO of Marriott. I’m minoring in real estate, so working for Marriott combines my interest in finance with my interest in real estate. I love the culture; I feel like they really put people first and work together as a team. And there’s a lot of potential for them to grow in the future.

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Checking in to a “suite” internship with Marriott International

Why did you choose George �鶹��Ƶ?

What inspired your interest in finance?

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How have your experiences at George �鶹��Ƶ prepared you for your internship?

What would you say is the importance of an internship?

Where do you hope to be in ten years?

George �鶹��Ƶ is Virginia's best for interships

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