Current and Past Recipients

Colter Adams ‘24 

This summer, with support from the Denning Fellowship, Colter was able to conduct energy policy research focused on community opposition to utility-scale solar projects in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Working under the guidance of Jill Cliburn, a Fellow with the American Solar Energy Society, Colter presented his research at the national American Solar Energy Society Convention, as part of a policy panel including researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the National Labs, and Clean Power Research. For much of the summer, Colter also taught biology and environmental studies to middle schoolers at the Breakthrough Collaborative in Santa Fe, a non-profit that supports motivated public school students whose identities have been historically excluded from higher education.  

"Working on energy policy while teaching students whose communities are most directly harmed by our nation’s failure to rapidly and equitably decarbonize was eye-opening. The insights of my 7th and 8th grade students played a significant role in guiding my research, and informed my understanding of public distrust of large scale energy projects, particularly in communities that are often disempowered in the permitting and approval process."

Anna Diaconu ‘24 

This summer, Anna Diaconu worked at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, WA. She was placed in the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Unit. The VAWA unit aids survivors of abuse at the hands of a US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident to file an immigration petition without notifying their abuser. The unit mainly files U Visas, T Visas, and VAWA Petitions. This summer, Anna was able to follow multiple applications from start to finish. She was grateful to work alongside attorneys and legal interns to conduct initial intake interviews, gather evidence, draft forms, write cover letters and declarations, and present legal research.  

"I feel incredibly grateful to the McKeen Center and NWIRP for this amazing opportunity. This is my third summer at NWIRP, but my first time in a full-time role. As a result, I was able to take on additional responsibilities that were not available to me previously. I am leaving my internship feeling more prepared for a future in law, and excited about the possibility of working somewhere like NWIRP."

Katie Draeger ‘24 

This summer, Katie worked at the Portland Housing Authority Development Office as the sustainability intern, advancing energy efficiency goals and establishing means of tracking how goals are being met. This work was split into two projects, one qualitative, the other quantitative. First, Katie developed a multilingual survey and interview protocol to assess residents' current bicycle usage and needed improvements to bicycle infrastructure across properties. Katie's other project required grappling with raw utility usage data and converting it into energy benchmarking information. Katie's work with PHA allowed her an opportunity to work at the forefront of her greatest passions: climate justice and housing justice.  

"Working with PHA's Development Office this summer offered me by far one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. The generosity of my coworkers opened my eyes to a professional path that requires compassionate work and problem solving every day. No matter what I was doing-- developing spreadsheets, interviewing residents, researching and applying to renewable energy grants-- I was thrilled and excited by the work knowing that it would ultimately contribute to expanding affordable housing capacity."

Shoshi Gordon ‘24 

This summer, Shoshi worked as an education intern at the Telling Room, a creative writing center for youth. In this role, she helped run a variety of summer camps and workshops, working 1:1 with students, leading activities, discussions, and games, coordinating meals, and other administrative tasks. She worked with writers ages 8-18 in workshops focused on a wide range of subjects, from graphic novels to personal narrative to poetry to bookmaking!  

"Working at the Telling Room has been one of the most exciting and transformative summer experiences. Observing the caring, trusting, and inspiring environment that is created in every space of the Telling Room has taught me so much about how to be the educator, leader, writer, and peer I want to be. This experience has deeply impacted how I think about education and I cannot wait to take what I’ve learned into my future as a teacher!" 

Clara Jergins ‘24 

This summer, Clara Jergins worked at Central American Legal Assistance (CALA) an organization in Brooklyn that provides free or low-cost legal services to the local community. Clara assisted  lawyers in case-building for their full representation clients through document translation; filled out asylum, work permit, and Temporary Protected Status applications with clients; and filed documents at immigration court. She helped field the high volume of need by conducting potential client intake over the phone and volunteering at CALA’s asylum and TPS application clinics. She learned so much from the lawyers and staff at CALA, and she greatly admires their work and the support they gave her. 

"I so appreciate the opportunity I had this summer to learn about and help in the asylum seeking process at Central American Legal Assistance. I’m left with great admiration for the work and dedication of the staff at CALA, and the courage and perseverance of their clients."

Andrew Kaleigh ‘24 

This summer, Andrew interned with the Drug Policy Alliance in the office of Federal Affairs. His work focused specifically on fentanyl, xylazine, and opioid policy. As the primary intern for these substances, Andrew tracked all federal legislation and news surrounding them, wrote a number of sign-on letters for the Drug Policy Alliance, produced news bulletins, and met with dozens of Congressional offices to promote harm-reduction drug policy. He also campaigned to repeal the lifetime ban on SNAP assistance for those with drug felony convictions. Following his internship, Andrew is now working with the Drug Policy Alliance to publish an article which explains the emerging threat of xylazine and analyzes current government response plans. 

"I am so grateful for my time at the Drug Policy Alliance, and for the team I worked with. This summer I met amazing and dedicated people. I found a passion and future career in drug policy, and the Denning Fellowship encouraged me to take time and reflect on my experiences through art."

Rory Kliewer ‘24 

Rory worked as a naturalist at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, MN. As a naturalist she conducted water quality surveys, taught school groups, and most often, developed and led outdoor summer camps. She believes that environmental education is key to connecting children with the outdoors and fostering investment in sustainable futures. Rory was excited to apply her knowledge from biology and science communication courses as a naturalist. They also deepened their connection with their home by cataloguing the new plant and animal species they encountered over the summer. Rory was thrilled to return to their childhood nature center this summer and deeply appreciated the chance to support accessible nature experiences. 

"Being at Wood Lake was a full-circle moment for me. I was able to see a small part of myself in every kid I connected with, and I used that to strengthen my skills as both an educator and a scientist. I am deeply grateful for the team at Wood Lake Nature Center that supported my ideas and personal growth this summer."

Jane Olsen ‘24 

This summer Jane worked for the Trust for Public Land as a part of the 10-Minute Walk team, an initiative to bring all U.S. residents within a 10-Minute Walk of a park. Over 300 mayors currently signed onto this program so throughout the summer a lot of her work focused on strengthening ties with those cities signed on. Part of her work included writing briefs for the Park Equity Accelerator program is aimed at supporting cities signed onto the 10-Minute Walk initiative through a focus on a central theme such as improving park connectivity or programming. She also participated in the community of practice workshops which work with city leaders to ensure that park policies and projects serve community needs rather than perpetuate green gentrification and inequities.  

"I loved working with the Trust for Public Land’s 10-Minute Walk Program team this summer. I am amazed at the ways in which TPL is leading efforts to increase green space across the country. I am grateful to have been part of a team that is thinking consciously about the community impact of green spaces and how to effectively integrate local voices into urban planning."

Paul Wang ‘24 

Paul worked with The Nature Conservancy's Maine Chapter, a global environmental nonprofit committed to preserving biodiversity and supporting the human activities that nature supports. Paul spent most of his summer working with the ocean conservation team by researching knowledge gaps for threatened species, as well as the ecological impacts of offshore wind development. Paul also participated in the organization's stream restoration work with field monitoring and assessment, as well as outreach programs with trail maintenance for local community organizations.  

"As a passionate fisherman and aspiring environmentalist, my summer spent at The Nature Conservancy was incredibly informative. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have been involved in such important work, for impactful mentors, and for the countless connections and formative experiences that will guide my career going forward. This was a truly great summer with amazing people!"

Sophia Pantzer ‘24 

This summer Sophia worked with the City of Portland Office of Economic Opportunity  on two primary projects: GIS mapping of city resources and planning for the Natural Helpers Leadership Program. She began the summer by creating a proposal elaborating on what questions the map would answer. Then, created a publicly available StoryMap listing resources in areas such as healthcare, food access, transportation, childcare, and legal support. In addition to this, she created a GIS map of childcare and food access in relation to public transit and public housing. For the natural helpers program, she attended meetings with a variety of community partners in order to build the program curriculum.

"This summer allowed me to develop facility with GIS, a program I never anticipated using. More than that it allowed me to learn about resource coordination and collaboration between governments, non-profits, and corporate partners. I also learned a lot from speaking with natural leaders in the community, and seeing their dedication to service for the sake of service."

Aura Carlson ‘23

Aura worked remotely with Mission Scholars in Santa Barbara and in-person at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP) in Brunswick. At Mission Scholars, Aura crafted in-depth narratives about 10 students from the class of 2022, detailing their passions and goals, and she compiled these stories into a booklet distributed to donors and the local community. During her work at MCHPP, Aura managed a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site Monday through Friday, distributing meals to 20-30 children in a local Section 8 housing community. She worked to implement an art program to increase engagement and facilitate trusting, friendly connections.

"I will always remember the bonds I formed with the kids and students I worked with this summer. They are always on my mind, and I will take the lessons I learned from them with me for the rest of my life—it is possible to maintain joy during hard times."

Grace Cross ‘23 

This summer, Grace worked at Hope Acts, a nonprofit in Portland, Maine that supports immigrants in transitioning to life in Maine. To address the needs of immigrants, particularly asylum seekers, Grace worked one-on-one with individuals, helping with things such as work permit applications, immigration issues, health care forms, finding food support, and more. She also co-led a weekly English conversation class. Additionally, Grace researched and outlined the current response, deficits, and needs in the current mental health system for asylum seekers. 

"I am so grateful to Hope Acts for welcoming me into their organization and supporting my work this summer! Over the past 10 weeks Hope Acts has given me an incredible perspective on the challenges and frustrations asylum seekers face, and how we as a community can work to address them in the future. A huge thank you to all the resilient, incredible, and giving people I have been able to work with!"

Amy Hussey ‘23

Amy worked with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association in Brunswick, ME, where she conducted a research project on the regulatory limits to fishermen’s flexibility to adapt to climate change. The literature review she wrote on this topic will serve as the foundation for her honors project. While at MCFA, Amy also gained first-hand experience in the field by attending a meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council in Portland, ME, and by shadowing a lobsterman in Harpswell. Other projects Amy worked on include updating the MCFA website and editing a podcast for Maine Coast Dock Talk, MCFA’s podcast which shares stories from the coast of Maine.

"I really enjoyed working with the staff at MCFA and learning so much from them. It was incredible to witness the impact such a small organization has on Maine’s fishing community. My internship confirmed my interest in fisheries management and I am now pursuing a career in the legal field."

Samira Iqbal ‘23

Samira Iqbal worked as an Outreach Fellow for the Bronx River Alliance. There, she assessed and met the needs of the local community by making materials and programming more accessible-- be that by tabling, creating outreach and post-event materials or researching the history of the South Bronx. She also organized and led weekly programming such as Gardening Thursdays and plantings at Bronx Park. She liaised with community partners such as GrowNYC, NWBCCC and Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School. For her final project, she organized an author talk with Carolyn McLaughlin (South Bronx Battles) and Vivian Vasquez (Decade of Fire).

"I had an amazing time at the Bronx River Alliance and was able to learn so much. The Outreach Fellow position allowed me to lead, learn from and participate in programming from all the different departments while also giving me the independence and support to pursue my own interest in land use and the history of the South Bronx. My coworkers, all native to New York (if not the Bronx), were all incredibly generous with sharing their time and experiences."

Jack Olcott ‘23

The Middlesex County (MA) District Attorney’s Office Internship Program offers undergraduate and law students the opportunity to contribute to the prosecution of crimes in Middlesex County. Interns assist attorneys, staff, and paralegals with legal research, trial preparation, investigative work, along with many other tasks. Interns assigned to the Development Team – the team of attorneys that try both district court and superior court cases – contribute to these attorneys work as they transition their skills from district court to the superior court. The MDAO internship program also puts on trainings, presentations, and law school preparation classes for the interns. 

"This summer, I was an intern with MDAO (the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office). I worked for an attorney who is part of the Development Team – a team where attorneys try both district and superior court cases. I contributed significantly to trial preparation for a case that involved the illegal possession of a firearm. My largest project was helping draft a legal document to detain a defendant prior to a trial."

Edwardo Perez ‘23

While at Squash Haven, Edwardo was able to coach and form strong bonds with students on the squash courts and in the classroom. He also was able to assist the program transition from their previous form of data collection ad entry to their new one, Salesforce. He was a great presence and extremely helpful.

"I felt that I was able to make a difference in so many different ways and with so many different people. I enjoyed that aspect of the work because it was not one dimensional and everything that I did felt like it was useful in some way because I could see the direct and indirect results of my work. This was especially true when working with the rising 12th graders with the college process and with the college tours."

Lily Poppen ‘22

Lily's partner organization this summer was Washington Trails Association. She was based in Seattle, but continued to work closely with Pierce County where WTA's presence and efforts to expand access to the outdoors in less resourced/covered areas. The focus of her summer work was on outdoor equity from a community partnership angle and an emphasis on urban trails. She continued to provide free photo and writing coverage for new partners attending WTA's camping and hiking workshops, with one of the biggest events being a three-day camping festival run by and for BIPOC communities.. In addition, she assisted at the Seattle and Puyallup gear libraries to repair, distribute, and organize gear to outfit organizations interested in taking their youth outside for free. One group requested gear for more than sixty people!

"I could not have asked for a better partner organization. To be able to return and see how projects from last summer have progressed to meeting new staff and reconnecting with past ones, being on the ground working directly with people who want to get outside has reinforced my love for increasing equity in the outdoors as a possible and viable career. Grateful to Bowdoin for all the hands-on experience to inform this summer position and grateful there is always so much more to learn."

Aadhya Ramineni ‘23

Aadhya received a Denning Fellowship to work for Brunswick Public Art and Oasis Free Clinics this summer making visual media for both local non-profits. Her primary project for Brunswick Public Art was to document the creation of a three-story mural that will be installed on Fort Andross/Cabot Mill next summer. At Oasis Free Clinics she helped organize Oasis’ first garden fundraiser.

"I am incredibly grateful that I got to create visual content for these non-profits because I got hands-on media production experience while weaving myself, in some small way, into the web of the Brunswick community."

Miki Rierson ‘23

Miki's role mainly consisted of working in the Forms Assist and Outreach programs for the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. The Forms Assist program works to help clients in completing a wide range of applications, but I primarily assisted with Temporary Protected Status & Asylum applications, Permanent Resident (Green Card)/DACA renewals, Employment Authorization Requests, and naturalization applications.

 "I am very grateful to have had the chance to work in so many different program areas, and the experience to work directly with clients. I felt that I got to learn so much about the process especially for Asylees and the compounding legal challenges status can lead to. I also enjoyed meeting clients and speaking with them instead of working totally in the abstract."

Henry Somerby '23

At CitySquash, Henry was able to pass down his knowledge of squash to the students there while also providing resources around injury prevention to them. He was also able to build relationships with the players and develop their games to a higher level. During the summer, Henry was also able to shadow and consult with sports medicine medical professionals across New York City to gain expertise on injuries in young athletes. In addition to this work, Henry was able to research and share his findings through his website that is designed to help young squash players through minor injuries and guide them to be injury-free collegiate squash players. 

"During my summer at CitySquash, I was able to make a lasting impact on the students, quantifiable by the difference in their gameplay. I also was able to learn a lot about the medical world and about sports medicine through shadowing doctors and researching injury prevention techniques. CitySquash also enabled me to understand how non-profits function and the work that is required to make them work."

Usira Ali ’22 (Biochemistry and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies) worked for In Her Presence, a nonprofit organization that serves women from 16 different countries in areas of concern based on their experience and feedback. She worked to support ‘The Mother’s Circle,’ IHP’s program to help expecting women have a safe pregnancy, delivery and informed postpartum period, by researching cultural customs and traditions that pregnant women have in their home countries and attending focus groups with mothers.  

“Cultural awareness shows respect for the patient’s background and builds trust between provider and patient. I created questions used to facilitate focus group discussions about birthing experiences in Maine. I attended focus groups with mothers to learn about their stories and hear their concerns.” 

Delaney Bullock ’22 (Earth & Oceanographic Science and Hispanic Studies) worked with the Merrymeeting Food Council, a collaborative network of community partners working towards an equitable and sustainable food system which supports the health and natural resources of local communities. Delaney’s research centered on the question “Are green crabs or kelp a viable and sustainable alternative nutrient amendment in Maine agricultural systems?” 

“I hope to help identify barriers for the supply and usage of marine-derived amendments for fishers and farmers in Maine. If a reliable and economically viable market can be developed, increased usage of locally grown kelp and invasive green crabs as soil amendments in agriculture could have a positive impact on coastal ecosystems, sustainable farming practices, climate change mitigation and Maine’s coastal economy.” 

Maria Camila ’22 (Neuroscience and Visual Arts) worked with the International Rescue Committee(IRC), an organization that provides health care, shelter, education, and empowerment support to refugees and other displaced people. Her work involved supporting IRC’s Intensive Care management program which offers one year of care to refugees, special immigrant visa and asylees, and The Prevention & Early Intervention Program (PEI) which provides mental health support to Afghan women in the northern Alameda County.  

“One of the independent research projects I worked was focused on investigating  vaccine hesitancy in the communities that the IRC serves in Alameda County. Once I had done my research, I reached out to the program’s participants to discuss the vaccine and help them make appointments, if they had not yet made them. Having these one-on-one conversations to discuss the impacts of the vaccine was my favorite part of my work this summer.” 

Beth Koeller ’22 (Government & Legal Studies and Hispanic Studies and Economics) worked for The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, which enforces the Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws. Her projects involved conducting intake calls with pro se litigants alleging discrimination in employment, public accommodations, or housing, drafting the legal complaint while conducting intakes which serve as the foundation for the investigation process and writing dispositions to recommend probable cause or lack thereof for a Complainant’s claim of discrimination. 

“I really enjoyed working with staff and fellow interns (mostly virtually) at the MCAD, and was inspired by their passion and dedication to their work. My internship confirmed my interest in thinking about pursuing a career in the legal field.” 

Madisen Miller ’22 (History and Government) worked with The  Yellow Tulip Project, an organization that works to smash the stigma surrounding mental illness and to build a community of people who realize that hope happens when youth and community leaders work together. Madisen worked with the development team to raise funds in order to support the organizations various programs, materials, staff salaries, and operational costs. 

“Over the course of this summer, I have successfully raised over $30,000 for the YTP thus far and am hoping to hear back from more foundations and companies as the year goes on. I have enjoyed my work with the Yellow Tulip Project immensely and am excited to continue in my role on a volunteer basis throughout my senior year.” 

Roman Parajon ’22 (Economics and Government & Legal Studies) worked for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs which develops programs and initiatives that support immigrant integration and serve immigrant Angelenos through the coordination of City services, outreach, and legislative advocacy. His projects included drafting memorandum, policy summaries, reports, resolutions, responses to constituent emails, and a bi-monthly newsletter and conducting research to guide Office initiatives and projects on topics like Deferred Enforced Departure, Temporary Protected Status and immigration detention.  

“Overall, I am thrilled to have worked on behalf of immigrant Angelenos and contributed to advocacy for immigrant communities nationwide.” 

Claire Pierce ’22 (Neuroscience and Sociology) spent her summer working for MaineHealth in the Healthy Aging Team. As a subset of the non-profit, the team works to improve care for older adults across MaineHealth facilities. Her main project was working with a doctor in the Maine Medical Center Emergency Department to create a comprehensive list of long-term care facilities in the area. She also examined the income and expenses of St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation & Residence, a multi-level long-term care facility owned by MaineHealth, in order to write a report and suggest ways to reduce expenses. 

“I want to thank the entire Healthy Aging team for welcoming me this summer and allowing me to be part of this incredible team! I am grateful for this opportunity to learn how work can be done to improve existing healthcare systems to better serve patients and the community as a whole.” 

Nimra Siddiqui ’22 (Mathematics and Government) worked with Media Trades, a non-profit tool that engages people from the left and right sides of the political spectrum in an exercise involving trading of news media content. She worked with Professor Daniel F. Stone (Department of Economics, Bowdoin) in conducting research on depolarization behavior, specifically, what causes people to feel warmer towards the other side. It is an attempt to bring people together and to understand what kinds of viewpoints, and under what circumstances, are people most likely to exhibit depolarizing behavior. 

“Political polarization is complicated. I find it challenging to point at certain characteristics and conclusively declare a strong relationship between them and greater political depolarization. We did find, however, that there seems a keenness to diversify news sources. Topics like climate change, minimum wage, and Capitol riots brought people to meet somewhere in the middle.” 

Clay Wackerman ’22 (English and Economics) worked with the Telling Room, a non-profit writing center for Portland Youth, offering a multitude of programs, from afterschool education to yearlong publishing fellowships. He worked both remote and in-person, focusing on copyediting and proofing manuscripts for upcoming publications, leading writing ramps and workshops for children aged 6-18 and organizing the Telling Room inventory. Other projects he worked on include photographing the Telling Room’s shadowboxing book launch and drafting and executing lesson plans for a number of writing camps.  

“A key takeaway for me is learning that when it comes to education, there is no horizon of pedagogical perfection; the classroom dynamic is always shifting and the teacher’s duty is to adapt and attend to the students’ needs.” 

Ariel Gonzales ‘21 (Asian Studies and Chemistry) worked at Bienestar Human Services, a nonprofit dedicated to implementing programs regarding HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, mental health services, and medical care. He helped to support two of their programs, “HOPWA: Housing Opportunities for Person with HIV/AIDS” and “My Life. My power.” by creating a list of available resources in the area for low income individuals that contracted HIV/AIDS and generating videos and posters to promote their programs to queer youth in Los Angeles . 

“Pictured on the left is my co-worker Miguel Arevalo, a substance abuse counselor and a facilitator for a support group with queer Latino men. The conversations I had with him highlighted issues of internalized homophobia, close-mindedness in Latino culture, and lack of spaces for queer youth. For such intellectual conversations that excited my curiosity, I am grateful to Miguel.” 

Liana Harrington ’21 (English, Psychology & Urban Studies) interned with The Emergency Action Network (TEAN), a nonprofit based in Brunswick, Maine, that harnesses the generosity of community members in order to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable youth. Her work included developing a program to help teenage asylum seekers learn English, applying for grants to support the community bike program and conducting an oral history project to document the impact of TEAN since its inception in 2016. 

“With the recent arrival of asylum-seeking families in Brunswick, TEAN has stepped into to fill a different need–they’ve advocated for a task force to be formed by Brunswick to address the needs of New Mainers, and have also worked to build a strong support network to coordinate health care, food deliveries, housing, and education “ 

Zachary Kaplan ’21 (Environmental Studies and Earth and Oceanographic Studies) worked with South Portland’s Office of Sustainability, whose mission is to guide the development of policies and practices that simultaneously promote economic well-being, strong community connections, and a healthy environment. With guidance from the office, he spent the summer exploring the concept of climate resilience hubs for a specific city neighborhood with high social vulnerability. 

“Just as the cities of Portland and South Portland have been working to enhance their One Climate Future (OCF) joint climate action plan, I am looking to elaborate on these themes of social, community-based resilience into the academic year. I am planning to conduct an independent study to investigate climate resilience in southern Maine through the lens of food security and sustainable, local food systems.”  

Lily McVetty ’21 (Environmental Studies and Anthropology) worked for The Climate Reality Project to support their “100% Committed” campaign, a campaign spearheaded by Climate Reality chapters to push universities, towns, cities, counties, and local businesses to commit to 100 percent clean electricity by 2030, striving to rely on renewable sources whenever possible. As the 100% Committed intern, she created resources for Climate Reality chapters and remote campaign engagement, facilitated a chapter networking session, assisted with coalition building and collaborated with Campaign staff to update and create new goals, strategies and tactics.  

“Transitions from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean electricity must emphasize not only urgent action, but also just and equitable action. For this reason I created a Just Transition Chapters Toolkit to support Climate Reality chapters in centering the voices of frontline communities and communities of color throughout their transitions.” 

Kiany Probherbs ’21 (Biochemistry Major) worked with Oliver Scholars, an organization that prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students from underprivileged communities in New York for success in independent high schools and prestigious colleges. As an alumnus of the Oliver Scholars program, which is a 14-month Scholars Immersion and Placement program, Kiany helped shape its direction by conducting research on the experience of minorities in the Bronx in relation to race and poverty and how it affects their experience entering an independent high school through the program.  

“My work this summer included studying the history of the Bronx and looking into the systematic oppression that Black and Latino impoverished communities have faced. I studied how the lack of resources and funding in Hospitals and emergency rooms has led to a strained relationship between Health professionals and residents in the community. Additionally, I studied how criminal pipelines are created and systematically enforced within schools and hospitals thus creating an atmosphere of isolation.” 

Elizabeth Sweeney ’21 (Sociology) worked for Tuba City Regional Health Care, a nonprofit dedicated to providing the community with the highest level of health care in Northern Arizona. She participated in training for Covid-19 infection prevention and control information. She also shadowed Dr. Amanda Burrage, who leads the Epidemic Response Team, as they collaborated with the Navajo Community Mitigation Team  to collectively mitigate the detrimental effects of the pandemic on the Navajo Nation.  

“Many thanks to Dr. Amanda Burrage and the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation staff who graciously welcomed me and shared their expertise to help me better understand the role of public health and medicine in a global pandemic and during an unprecedented time of suffering.” 

Ryan Telingator ’21 (Government & Legal Studies and Education) worked for Strategies for Children (SFC), an organization that works to ensure that Massachusetts invests the resources needed for all children to access high-quality early education programs. His work revolved around monitoring the news for articles about the field, monitoring policies of other states, writing testimony to elected officials and creating the SFC Election Web Page. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic starkly affected the ECE landscape this summer. The effects were felt at the programmatic (loss of revenue), family (loss of care), and child (loss of learning) levels. The child care crisis that emerged required a lot of state advocacy this summer.” 

Abigail Wu ’21 worked for Hope Act, a nonprofit based in Portland, Maine that focuses on providing resources to immigrants and asylum seekers such as housing, English lessons, and financial literacy lessons. She worked as a teacher in their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  classes and collaborated with other teachers to develop lesson plans. Her work was entirely remote due to the pandemic.  

"I enjoyed collaborating with other teachers and developing lesson plans, as well as teaching and interacting with students. Language learning and acquisition are very important to me, and I am very grateful for the Denning Fellowship and Hope Acts for this opportunity and experience.​"

Jay Jihoe Yoon ‘21 (Government & Legal Studies and Psychology) worked for the Asia Foundation, a non-profit international development organization committed to improving lives across Asia, and Massachusetts General Hospital, which trains the next generation of leaders in science and medicine. Her projects at the Asia Foundation included supporting their programs such as the 2020 Asian Approaches to Development Cooperation Conflict and the Northeast Asia Policy Dialogue. Her work at Mass General Hospital included conducting research on heart rate variability as an indicator of efficacy of TMS treatment and the relationship between social anhedonia and depression.  

“Many thanks to flexibility of Denning Fellowship Committee, The Asia Foundation Korea office staff, and Dr. Tracy Barbour, who made it possible to challenge myself and grow despite the uncertainties of COVID-19.” 

"The ACLU of Maine’s work is always important but right now it feels especially critically. Being able to be a part of the organization during this time has been really special. I have been able to contribute to the work I find so meaningful while also learning so much about both non-profit management and the program work of the organization.”

"Before this summer, I had never stepped foot in AS220, even though it serves as the foundation of Providence’s art scene. I got to work alongside youth around my age working on a hip-hop theater production and make connections with other creatives in the Creative Capital. I am very grateful to have this newfound community."

Charlotte Hall '20 (Mathematics and Psychology) worked at Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) in Milpitas, CA and at the Stanford Project on Adaptation and Resilience in Kids (SPARK) Lab in Stanford, CA. She explored the connection between the research and implementation of social and emotional learning. At the SPARK Lab, she assisted in research on social and emotional learning. At FLY, she explored how social and emotional learning impacts the non-profit’s work of preventing juvenile crime and incarceration. She worked with the admin department at FLY by creating a report on donor behavior, assisting in the grant-writing department, and aiding in a financial audit.

"It was a privilege to learn from both FLY and SPARK throughout my summer. I am constantly inspired by the crucial work FLY is doing for the juvenile criminal system. At SPARK, I learned about the hard work researchers put into helping facilitate change. Growing up in the Bay Area, it was incredibly meaningful to give back in my home community this summer." 

Praise Hall '20 (Sociology and Education) with a grant from the National Science Foundation, conducted research at Texas A&M’s Research Institute in Sociology and Social Inequality. She used data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)’s 2009 High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS) to quantitatively examine the connection between relational teacher care and Black and Latinx’s academic achievement in math and science classes.

“Researching care in the classroom has been incredibly eye opening for me as an aspiring teacher and educational policy maker. I realized the importance of cultivating authentic   relationships and the stake such relationships play in students’ learning. I am beyond excited to continue this research and work to ensure authentic care is a fundamental structure of all student – teacher and student – school relationships.”

Bridget Hoke '20 (Africana Studies and English) worked as the media intern for Rippleffect, an outdoor leadership education non-profit with an island off the coast of Portland. Her main projects for the summer were photo and video content collection, management of social media accounts, creation of written blogs, and case statement production. Every day, she went out onto Cow Island to tell the story of Rippleffect's programs, students, staff, and mission. Aware of challenges of the outdoor education sector, the organization is working to provide equity of access and cultural awareness as they serve the Portland population. Bridget's storytelling sought to elevate stories of Cow Island and Rippleffect that showcase the impact the program can have on individual lives and larger communities.

“I wanted exposure to outdoor education but would not have been qualified to be a guide with Rippleffect. The flexibility of the Denning has given me the unique opportunity to enter a workplace chiefly to learn. It has given me the time and space to consider the challenges and benefits of a career in non-profits. It has made me feel connected to the entire education network in Portland.”

Jules Kiley '20 (Education, English, and Hispanic Studies) received the Denning Fellowship which enabled her to work at The Telling Room, an organization in Portland that seeks to empower youth through creative writing and share their voices with the world. Jules served as a Teaching Assistant in The Telling Room’s summer programs. In her role, Jules helped to facilitate writing exercises, worked one-on-one with students to revise their pieces, and accompanied students on field trips throughout Portland. When she was not working with summer programs, Jules focused primarily on developing connections between The Telling Room and Bowdoin that could be sustained for the coming school year.

“By providing the space for youth to share their voices through creative writing, The Telling Room empowers youth to realize that their voices matter. The Telling Room is the perfect nonprofit placement for me as an English and Education major because I get to not only help students develop their writing, but also hone in on my own writing skills. I hope to bring what I have learned about writing’s empowering potential to my coursework at Bowdoin.”

Charlotte Borden '19 has a passion for criminal justice reform and is working with AS220, community arts organization in Providence, RI that is based on inclusion and the promotion of justice. They provide programming for the state’s only juvenile corrections center. 

Ellinor Heywood '19 is working with Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine in Brunswick and Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine in Portland on issues affecting sexual assault survivors  She plans to develop an honors thesis focusing on these issues with Latin American immigrants. 

Darlene Ineza '19 will examine East African immigrants’ healthcare experiences in Maine through a collaboration with a researcher at Maine Medical Center. She will be working with a researcher who is an attending physician in the International Clinic at Maine Medical Center.  

Ripley Mayfield '19 is interested in issues around food security and agriculture in Maine. She will be working with the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment in Freeport on issues related to food systems and sustainable food production. 

Brandon Morande '19 is interested in exploring how homeless populations in Maine, especially Portland, interact with and access healthcare systems. Brandon is working with MaineHealth Access to Care, a program that provides healthcare services and education to those without insurance, in Portland and Damariscotta 

Judy Olivares '19 will work in her hometown of San Antonio, TX around issues with Latino youth and social justice. Judy is planning to work with Child Protective Services in San Antonio and shadow a case-worker for the summer to learn about the issues that Latino youth face and take those learnings into her academic work next fall. 

Jae Min Yoo '19 is passionate about learning more and working with organizations that tackle food insecurity in Maine. She will be working with the Cumberland County Food Security Council in Portland and wants to translate that opportunity into an independent study in the fall.  

Lindsey Duff '18 (Psychology) spent this summer in Salem, MA working with LEAP for Education.  This education nonprofit provides low-income students, first-generation Americans, English Language Learners, and first-generation-to-college students with educational programming and college advising. Lindsey worked primarily with their Summer English Academy for English Language Learning high school students, developing programming related the summer's theme "Help Wanted: Celebration the Ingenuity, Multiculturism, and Enterprising Nature of the Citizens of Salem."

"My experience this summer was grounded in my research into multicultural education and has inspired me to consider a career path working directly with high schoolers. I look forward to continuing my research into the emotional experience of privilege and how it may prompt one to either address or avoid social inequality."

Scout Gregerson '18 (Neuroscience) helped Oasis Free Clinic, a provider of free health care to uninsured adults in southern Midcoast Maine, conduct a community needs assessment.  She carried out interviews with partner organizations to better understand the key health and service needs of those with low-income and identify future areas of collaboration.  In the fall, Scout will help draft a final report of the whole assessment with recommendations for the Board of Directors.

"Working with Oasis has opened my eyes to the challenge and necessity of meeting health care needs for all, especially those who are underserved.  This summer has reinforced my conviction that access to quality health care with dignity must be considered a fundamental right."

Zach Hebert '18 (Sociology) spent his summer working with the Merrymeeting Food Council.  Zach assisted with a range of projects from youth engagement to market analysis.  His main project was working to expand the Merrymeeting Gleaners, a project of the MCF that works to distribute additional produce from farms to low-income community members in Midcoast Maine. Throughout the summer Zach helped the Gleaners expand to several new recipient organizations, provide service in six new towns, and assisted in  a 20% increase in gleaned produce for the month of July.

"Being involved with MCF has allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of a local food system through administrative coordination and hands-on experience.  With great significance for my post-graduate plans, this internship has provided me with the confidence in knowing that I can independently coordinate food assistance programs from the produce still on the ground, all the way to the mouths of the individuals who need it the most."

Kevin Hernandez '18 (Sociology) spent his summer working with Bienestar Humas Services (East Los Angeles) to support the health and wellness of the Latino, LGBT, undocumented community.  He developed culturally relevant curriculum that effectively provided risk reduction

Michelle Jeong '18 (Sociology)

Sarah Kelley '18 (Psychology)

June Marx '18 (Education and English)

Liam Nicoll '18 (Government & Legal Studies and Religion)

Lili Ramos '18 (Psychology)

Daisy Wislar '18 (Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies and Sociology)

During Kelsey Freeman '16's internship at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, Oregon, Kelsey Freeman '16 (Government & Legal Studies) spent the majority of the summer directly working with Native youth— developing culturally relevant curriculum for NAYA’s summer school programming and teaching classes during NAYA’s Summer Camp Rise for 2nd through 8th graders.

"This experience has been extremely valuable in exposing me to an innovative non-profit, giving me direct teaching experience, helping me learn more about Portland’s Native community, and taking me one step further in refining my career goals."

Michelle Johnson '15

Tracie Goldsmith '14

Taylor Cochran

Laurel Curtis '14