Badgers abroad for summer internships

Thanks to International Internship Program (IIP) students who’ve shared their adventures on Instagram at #MyBadgerSummer, we can share a window into their world of learning, working and trekking around the globe this summer.

The IIP, housed in the International Division, develops, identifies and promotes professional experiences for students with organizations abroad.

“Summer is the most popular time to send student interns abroad, and IIP offers a wide array of opportunities ranging from research, business, health, education and art,” says IIP Director Carly Stingl. “Our office also supports students who find opportunities on their own, and we offer some virtual summer internships for students as well.”

This summer, 26 students are participating in person at internships in 12 countries — Finland, Spain, Germany, Malawi, Kenya, Israel, Nepal, France, South Korea, Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil — while 16 students are participating as virtual summer interns with organizations in China, Japan, Uganda, Tanzania, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile and Spain.

“Especially this year, students have a lot of pent-up interest in going abroad and being immersed in another culture, and they have already learned so much about their host countries and themselves,” Stingl says. “For example, one of our students in Ecuador shares how her water research directly impacts the ocean she has been visiting.” (Read more about her experience below.)

IIP also offers fall and spring in-person and virtual internships, but they have the most participants in the summer. Students can see different internships available in the IIP database, take advantage of in-person or virtual advising from IIP or check out IIP student Instagram takeovers to learn more.

In the meantime, enjoy a few scenes of Badgers participating in IIP around the world during Summer Term 2022!

Anna Dugan is a rising senior majoring in biology, Spanish and environmental studies. She’s doing a 6-week internship analyzing water quality on the coast of Ecuador at the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve with the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation.

Maddie and Amelia are interning with Health by All Means in Lunga-Lunga, Kenya, teaching life skills, health topics and empowering women. Maddie Paulow will graduate at the end of the summer with majors in Spanish, international studies and Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian studies. Amelia Taylor is a rising junior majoring in rehabilitation psychology and health promotion and health equity in the School of Education.

Abby Sharp is a rising senior majoring in textiles and fashion design with a certificate in material culture studies. They’re in Kathmandu, Nepal, designing products that emphasize local materials and craft practices for the Association for Craft Producers.

Thomas Harr is a rising senior studying biochemistry with a certificate in biocore. He’s interning in Munich, Germany, at the Ludwig Maximilian University in a lab researching RNA splicing proteins using fruit flies as the model organism.

Katheryn “Kat” Saavedra is a rising senior in the School of Education, majoring in elementary education in early childhood and English as a second language. She’s working toward certificates in Chican@ & Latin@ Studies and educational policy studies. Kat is an intern in Seville, Spain, for the English Social Club, teaching English.

Emily Zeller is a rising junior studying supply chain management and sustainability. She’s in Lille, France, working as a communications intern with CESI, a graduate university for engineers.

Maggie Riordan and Taylor Heinicke are both rising seniors. Maggie is studying English literature, political science and history with an education policy certificate. Taylor is studying journalism with a strategic communications concentration and a certificate in TESOL. They’re interning as English teachers at the International University Exchange Center in Seoul, South Korea.

See what Summer Term can offer you and share your summer experiences on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #MyBadgerSummer.