Students Complete Summer Internships Across the U.S.

Every summer, students from all majors within the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies flock to internships. An internship is required for journalism and strategic communication majors, recommended for media studies and film studies & production majors, and a popular capstone option for our two graduate programs: the MA in media & public communication and the MA in international & intercultural communication.

Students can sign up for internship credit any quarter, but many choose to fulfill the requirement during summer vacation, to allow for a more flexible work schedule and to open up the opportunity to work somewhere outside of Denver.

After completing their internship work in Summer 2018, three of our students told us more about where they worked and the projects they completed.

Myles Goldstein (junior, film studies & production and emergent digital practices major)

I interned at a small video production company called DigiNovations based in Acton, a city outside of Boston. They specialize in producing videos for corporate, education, and not-for-profit clients. They had never had an intern before and dedicated themselves to teaching me what they knew based on what I wanted to learn. They also answered any other questions I had along the way.

In the position, I didn't always have set day-to-day tasks. Sometimes I would experiment with their equipment and facilities or work on my own personal projects with some guidance from supervisors.

Overall, I felt that I was given the opportunity to be in charge of what I wanted to do each day, and I found that walking in without a goal and waiting for something to come my way wasn't always the best method for learning. I valued the experience and the opportunity to work among video professionals in an office environment.

Kelly Hill (second-year graduate student, MA in international & intercultural communication)

During summer 2018, I had the privilege of interning with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Denver. I had done some work with refugee youth before, so I was interested in diving deeper into the resettlement process as a part of my academic program.

When I reached out to professors in MFJS, they suggested contacts in the community who eventually lead me to IRC, known around the world as a top aid and resettlement agency. Among many internship options, IRC Denver stood out because they were open to collaborating closely with me to make sure that I was serving their needs while also meeting my own learning goals. Because of my particular interest in how U.S. volunteers and refugees navigate intercultural relationships, the first project I worked on was creating a community mentorship and housing subsidy program.

I spoke with IRC offices across the U.S., researched best practices, created Denver-specific materials and provided recommendations to IRC Denver leadership staff. Using the plans and materials I created, IRC Denver hopes to launch a program in the new financial year. In addition to this project, I also performed a needs assessment for the IRC staff regarding their intern and volunteer training processes – all while getting an insider's look at the day-to-day operations of a successful non-profit.

I know that my work at IRC Denver will directly impact their future operations, as well as add depth to my professional portfolio. But what stands out most from my experience are all the moments when I saw refugees and U.S. residents coming together and building successful, mutually beneficial relationships.

Seeing people come together across their differences to embrace a new sense of community was what made me think over and over again, "This is where I'm meant to be!" This internship affirmed my passion for intercultural work and excited me about all that the future holds!

Holly Wright (second year graduate student, MA in international & intercultural communication)

I completed my internship with WorldDenver, a nonprofit whose staff dedicates their time to advancing knowledge about global affairs and cultures. I had discovered WorldDenver while doing research for my job at the Office of International Education at DU.

My role as an intern was with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The IVLP is a professional exchange program funded by the Department of State (DoS) that seeks to bring individuals from around the world to cities in the U.S. for specific programs that enhance cultural understanding and lead to professional development.

The responsibilities I held as an intern included writing several proposals for potential programs sent to the DoS; researching organizations around Denver to provide resources for future groups; creating programs for visitors by setting up meetings and contacting organizations in Denver; and attending meetings and visiting with international groups.

WorldDenver provided an extremely valuable internship experience for me. I have continued to intern with them through this fall quarter. Throughout my internship, I gained incredibly valuable skills that I can easily transfer into my future career in international higher education.

Furthermore, I was able to meet many of the groups that came to Denver, creating invaluable opportunities to interact with these professionals and learn more about their goals for their communities. This internship was incredibly interesting, challenging and rewarding.