吃瓜爆料

lIla SMITH 鈥�26

School for International Training鈥檚 International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy program, Geneva, Switzerland 鈥�

Lila Smith 鈥�26, a political science major with an Honors Forum minor, made the most of her summer through SIT鈥檚 Switzerland: International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy program. Recommended by her advisor, Professor Beau Breslin, the Joseph C. Palamountain Jr. Chair in Political Science, the program allowed Smith to immerse herself in international relations and diplomacy in the heart of Geneva. 
 
During her time in Switzerland, Smith explored pivotal institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Her classes were taught by global experts, including a terrorism scholar from Mauritania, an environmental monitor from Kyiv, and a Chinese economist, providing her with a rich, multifaceted understanding of diplomacy that extends beyond an American-centric perspective. 

鈥淓asily my favorite thing I鈥檝e experienced during this program was going to the World Trade Organization鈥檚 Open Doors Event,鈥� said Smith.

Smith is also working on a research paper examining the rhetoric and agendas of far-right European political parties that have recently gained power. This project, along with her other experiences, is helping her build valuable skills for her future career in political science. 
 
In her free time, she delighted in hiking the Alps, exploring the shores of Lake Geneva, and connecting with her Swiss heritage and relatives. This unique blend of academic rigor and personal exploration made her summer both fulfilling and transformative.

Natasha Machera 鈥�25

Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts鈥�

Natasha Machera 鈥�25, a biochemistry major from Zimbabwe, made a difference at Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital in Boston this summer. Machera interned in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, thanks to a connection she made with Division Chief Dr. Joshua Boyce 鈥�81 during a 吃瓜爆料 Career Fair in fall 2022. They share an enthusiasm for advancing treatments for inflammatory airway diseases like asthma. 
 
Asthma, a chronic condition affecting over 330 million people worldwide, is primarily treated with therapies that address symptoms rather than the disease鈥檚 root causes. Machera鈥檚 research focuses on Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator involved in controlling Type 2 inflammation (T2I) in the respiratory tract. Her work aims to explore the potential of creating new, protective pathways for asthma treatment. 
 
鈥淥ne of my favorite aspects of this summer has been engaging in conversations with graduate students in the lab,鈥� Machera said. 鈥淟earning from their diverse perspectives and expertise has greatly enriched my understanding of the research field and inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. after graduating from 吃瓜爆料.鈥�

AVA TESORIERO 鈥�25

Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, New York 

Ava Tesoriero immersed herself in the world of ceramics and arts administration as a studio intern at Saratoga Clay Arts Center (SCAC), located just 15 minutes from the 吃瓜爆料 campus. 
 
Tesoriero, a studio art major with a focus on ceramics and minors in art history and arts administration, sought an internship that combined her artistic passion with her academic knowledge. At SCAC, she handled tasks such as firing electric and reduction kilns, taking inventory, mixing glazes from raw materials, and assisting with classroom upkeep. Notably, she was involved in renovating SCAC鈥檚 downstairs classroom, which would soon serve as the venue for the 鈥淜ids and Clay鈥� summer program. 
 
Tesoriero found the blend of creative and administrative responsibilities particularly fulfilling. She noted, 鈥淢y favorite part of this internship was being hands-on in the administrative aspects of an arts organization while also honing and sharpening my skills as a ceramics artist.鈥� 
 
The welcoming community at SCAC enhanced her practical skills and inspired her to push the boundaries of her own ceramic work. Each day, she left feeling inspired and excited to further explore the dynamic field of ceramic arts, grateful for the opportunity to work alongside talented artists and mentors. 

JOSIAH ESPINOZA 鈥�27

Youth Training and Rehabilitation Centre, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago

Josiah Espinoza, who plans to major in art and geosciences, gained valuable insight through a meaningful internship at the Youth Training and Rehabilitation Centre (YTRC) in Trinidad and Tobago this summer. 
 
He discovered the unique opportunity through professional networking and embraced the challenge of teaching visual art as therapy to inmates at the center. 

 
In his role, Espinoza applied foundational art techniques 鈥� such as line and brush work, hand-eye coordination, and observational skills 鈥� while using art as a therapeutic tool. He crafted a detailed syllabus to help his students explore and express their emotions through drawing and painting. 
 
One of Espinoza鈥檚 proudest moments came from observing his students' deep engagement with their artwork.

Another highlight was leading a project that culminated in a student art exhibition during the August holidays, providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity. Through this experience, Espinoza gained practical insights relevant to his major and demonstrated how art can serve as a powerful medium for personal and emotional growth.

ANNA STRIBRNY 鈥�24

Paul Taylor Dance Company, New York City

Anna Stribrny 鈥�24, a dance and art history double major with an Honors Forum minor, embarked on an exciting journey with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, one of New York City鈥檚 premier modern dance institutions. 
 
Through her internship, she gained an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of a leading dance organization. The experience, she says, was instrumental in expanding her knowledge of arts administration 鈥� essential for anyone aspiring to establish their own dance company. 
 
Supported by the SEE-Beyond Award, she also engaged in various dance intensives and workshops, including the Yue Yin Dance summer program, where she explored the unique FoCo technique, a fusion of Chinese folk dance, ballet, and modern styles. 

 
鈥淥ne of the most fulfilling moments during my internship was being selected as an Ambassador for the Paul Taylor Dance Company during their Joyce Season,鈥� Stribrny said.

Honor Kula '26 

Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, Arusha, Tanzania 

Honor Kula, a dance major on a pre-health track, recently completed a transformative internship through Intern Abroad HQ with Medi Trip at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Eager to expand her exposure to diverse healthcare environments and patient populations, Kula chose the placement with her aspirations in surgery in mind. 
 
During her six-week internship, Kula dedicated 180 hours to the operating theater, observing 60 surgeries across orthopedic, pediatric, general, OB/GYN, and urology specialties. This immersive experience provided her with a comprehensive view of surgical procedures and the innovative approaches required in a resource-limited setting. 
 
Kula was particularly struck by the doctors鈥� ability to adapt to challenging conditions.

She observed creative problem-solving, such as using gloves as makeshift tourniquets, and how treatment strategies were tailored to meet the financial constraints of patients, many of whom could only seek care at advanced stages of illness. The doctors at ALMC demonstrated exceptional flexibility and resourcefulness, teaching Kula that effective medical care often involves thinking outside the box. 
 
Inspired by the dedication and ingenuity of the medical team, Kula is excited to return next summer to further her learning and continue exploring global medical practices.

Andrew Villardi '25

City Historian鈥檚 Office, Saratoga Springs, New York 

Andrew Villardi, a sociology and anthropology double major, completed an impactful internship at the Saratoga Springs City Historian鈥檚 Office this summer. After transferring to 吃瓜爆料 in his junior year, Villardi sought this internship to gain hands-on experience and deepen his academic studies. 

During his time at the City Historian鈥檚 Office, Villardi engaged in two key areas of work. His primary responsibility was transcribing oral narrative interviews for the West Side Oral Narrative Project. The interviews were recorded by Mary Ann Fitzgerald, a 吃瓜爆料 retiree who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 as a graduate of its former University Without Walls program, before her tenure as City Historian. They required meticulous transcription to preserve the authenticity of the local vernacular 鈥� a crucial aspect of linguistic anthropology. 

In addition to transcription, Villardi organized and prepared archival materials for transfer to the Saratoga Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Faced with an initially daunting collection, he successfully streamlined and categorized the materials, creating a cohesive and accessible archive. 

Villardi鈥檚 achievements this summer were significant, from refining the archival process to contributing to the public record of Saratoga鈥檚 West Side. His work not only enhanced local historical knowledge but also exemplified the practical impact of his academic studies, reflecting 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning and community engagement. 

Reflecting on his achievements, he said, 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to be able to contribute to public knowledge, especially in such a way that is tailored to the local history and the working-class identity of the West Side of Saratoga.鈥� 

Audrey MacDonald '25

Watsessing Elementary School, Bloomfield, New Jersey 

Audrey MacDonald, an education studies major with a minor in psychology, completed a student teaching internship at Watsessing Elementary School in New Jersey this summer. 
 
The opportunity was arranged by her advisor, Assistant Professor of Education Studies Laurie Rabinowitz, who connected MacDonald with the school鈥檚 principal after she expressed a desire to gain experience in special education. 
 
At Watsessing Elementary, MacDonald worked in an inclusion-style kindergarten classroom, where she honed her skills in differentiated instruction and explored various special education methods. She gained practical experience by participating in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings and grade-level discussions, learning the importance of collaboration among co-teachers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, counselors, and families in creating effective learning environments.

A particularly memorable part of MacDonald鈥檚 internship was designing an art project in which students illustrated their favorite school memories. She then assembled a bulletin board to display their artwork during the school鈥檚 Open House Night. The project allowed her to connect deeply with her students and celebrate their creativity, making it a standout and fulfilling component of her internship experience.