What They Did This Summer

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Pieces Clicked in D.C.

Whether you’re looking for that first job or the perfect internship, networking often is key. Last spring, while assisting the editorial staff of this magazine on an assignment in Washington, D.C., Sarah Lindemann ’13 seized one such opportunity.

The story featured the women of Sweet Briar’s extensive alumnae community working in and around the nation’s capital. Susan Scanlan ’69, president of the National Council of Women’s Organizations and newly elected Sweet Briar board member, was among them. Scanlan gave her card to Lindemann, who called a week later and netted an unpaid public relations and photography internship with the council.

“She essentially created the position for me,” Lindemann said. “If I hadn’t followed up with her, I never would have gotten this amazing internship!”

All summer, Lindemann photographed high-profile events in the capital, including a rally in support of Betty Dukes’ gender discrimination case against Wal-Mart, a briefing on the current status of Title IX in honor of its 40th anniversary, a press conference on the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Girl Scouts 100th birthday celebration.

The internship went beyond taking pictures (some of the images in this story are hers), says Lindemann, who is still exploring career options. As an environmental studies major with a minor in journalism, new media and communications, her interests are varied.

“I’ve learned so much more about the inner workings of D.C. and how important networking and maintaining professional relationships are.

“I’ve worked on teaching myself more about photographing events and creating an efficient workflow,” she added. “I have also learned how much I still have left to learn. Every day I have more questions about certain aspects of photography or politics, and how they can impact one another.”

Lindemann wasn’t the only one to land a killer internship this summer. Sweet Briar students fanned out across the globe, doing great things and gaining incalculable experience.

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Jessica Murphy ’13
MAJORS: Liberal studies, dance
Student-teacher assistant at R.S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg, Va.

Murphy was one of two Sweet Briar students interning at R.S. Payne Elementary School in Lynchburg in May and June. She taught one of the fifth-grade classes in the school’s Gifted Opportunities Center — a perfect fit for her: “An unexpected surprise when I first began teaching was to find that they were working on their spring musical. When I informed my mentor teacher of my dance background, she allowed me to choreograph several of the numbers.”

Alyssa Berkeley ’13
MAJOR: Elementary and special education
Student-teacher assistant at R.S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg, Va.

Berkeley taught mostly science to fourth-graders in the gifted center. “The best part of this internship by far has been having my students tell me that learning science with me is the best part of their day. It has inspired me to want to learn more and become a better science teacher for them.”

Sarah Hibler ’14
MAJOR: Business
MINOR: Anthropology
Intern at BritBound, a travel company in London

BritBound is an international travel company that offers assistance to people who are moving to the UK. In addition to connecting with “BritBounders” and helping them to relocate, Hibler wrote articles for the company’s website, scoped tourist attractions, organized events, and traveled around the country and to Italy.

Madeline Hodges ’13
MAJORS: History of art, studio art
CERTIFICATE: Arts management
Curatorial assistant interning for the U.S. Army Center of Military History at its Museum Support Center at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Hodges assisted the head curator of the Army Art Collection for credit toward her Arts Management Certificate.

Lilian Tauber ’14
MAJORS: International affairs, history
MINOR: German
Writer, editor at online forum E-Joussour in Rabat, Morocco

E-Joussour is an online forum that highlights the work of civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Middle East and North Africa region. As part of the editorial staff, Tauber wrote, edited and translated various publications for the website on human rights issues in the region. E-Joussour publishes in English, French and Arabic. Tauber posted several original reports, including one titled “Diplomacy unlikely to ease humanitarian crisis in Syria, despite recent massacre in al-Houla.”

Amanda Johnson ’14
MAJORS: Engineering science, physics
Student researcher in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Summer Institute in Biomedical Optics program in Boston

Johnson was one of 20 student researchers who were selected from the U.S. and Korea to participate in a project at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Johnson worked on a new detection system that would “allow for more rapid diagnosis and therapy determination of tumors.”

Elizabeth Hansbrough ’13
MAJOR: Business
MINOR: Government
Legislative research intern in the public policy and governmental affairs group at the global accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton LLP

“I am particularly interested in the intersection between business and government and I think helping Grant Thornton with researching legislation related to the accounting profession will be a great exposure to that area. I am hoping the internship helps me decide if I would like to pursue a career in corporate law in the future.”

Suzannah Feldman ’13
MAJOR: English
MINOR: Journalism, new media and communications
Public relations intern, South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston

“Being behind the scenes at the aquarium is my favorite part. I’ve already shared a ride in the [staff] elevator with some pretty cool fish! It’s not unusual to share a ride between floors with a sea turtle, otter or some fish that are on their way to get check-ups or are coming out of quarantine.”

Suzannah says science just isn’t her thing, but animal species conservation is. “I come from a long line of veterinarians, so saving animals is definitely my passion. I knew I couldn’t contribute in that way, which is why I’m working on publicity that raises awareness about threatened environments.”

Katie Holloway ’13
MAJOR: Studio art
Intern for the University of Virginia’s Young Writers Workshop

Holloway gained valuable experience this summer as an administrative intern for UVa’s Young Writers Workshop — and she didn’t even have to go anywhere. For the first time, the camp took place at Sweet Briar. “It is a wonderful experience to watch so many brilliant, flexible people work together and brainstorm to re-establish this program in a new place.”

Pamela Webster ’13
MAJOR: Economics
MINOR: Business
Accounting intern at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Charlottesville, Va.

“My favorite part about working at Monticello was learning how a nonprofit ran, and how strongly the foundation held to its main purpose.”

Frankie Beyer ’14
MAJOR: Psychology
Intern at Kurn Hattin, a home for at-risk children in Westminster, Vt.

Beyer combined two of her passions this summer — psychology and riding — working with at-risk children through the school’s therapeutic riding program.

“Many of the children have attachment disorders and other psychological issues due to their family situations. This kind of work is something that I am very interested in and could see myself doing as a career after Sweet Briar.”

Ashley Rust ’13
MAJOR: History
MINOR: Spanish
CERTIFICATE: Arts management
Intern at Danville Regional Foundation, an economic development organization in Danville, Va.

Rust worked with area leaders to develop programs to enhance the community. Such efforts included initiatives to attract and retain young professionals, and to collaborate with nonprofit organizations and other community partners in the field of philanthropy.

Ashley Baker ’15
MAJOR: Chemistry
Intern, Good Housekeeping Research Institute (home appliances/cleaning products/textiles department), New York City

Baker spent the summer doing something she has been interested in since high school: testing consumer products. Besides testing, she brainstormed editorial projects, contributed to blogs on the Good Housekeeping website, and attended research and publishing press events.

Noelle Ames ’13
MAJOR: Environmental science
Environmental intern with the Naval Research Lab at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi

Ames worked on a project related to geographic information systems and environmental prediction. The work expanded skills she learned in Professor Rebecca Ambers’ GIS class and gave her the opportunity to work with new technologies.

Victoria Hall ’15
MAJOR: Environmental studies
Environment, safety, health and safeguards intern for B&W Nuclear Operations Group in Lynchburg, Va.

In her second year at B&W NOG, Hall worked with the waste operations and environmental engineering groups, which handle wastewater treatment, recycling or reusing manufacturing waste products, and regulatory compliance. She also obtained a safety certification as a Fall Protection Competent Person after a 16-hour course in which she was able to see how it felt to be suspended in the air.

Julie Moorhead ’13
MAJOR: English and creative writing, philosophy
MINOR: Journalism, new media and communications
Intern for the House of Representatives in the office of Rep. David Dreier

Moorhead spent the summer in the capital assisting David Dreier, representative for California’s 26th District and chairman of the House Committee on Rules, and his staff with daily congressional duties. She attended various House debates and committee meetings to gain more experience and knowledge of the U.S. government and Capitol Hill.

Nina Peck ’13
MAJORS: Economics, international affairs
Policy research intern at the Southern Governors’ Association

Peck spent the summer researching federal policy that affects the southern states and resources of the South. She landed the internship through the Fund for American Studies, a partner of Georgetown University where she also took two courses this summer.

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Category: Fall 2012, Features