Two students from the Sociology Department took on one of the greatest learning experiences of their lives: an internship through The Washington Center in Washington, D. C. Both students learned about the program with the help of Dr. Talty, the Assistant Dean. Talty has acted as the liaison for UMASS Lowell to the Washington Center for many students from all academic backgrounds. He aids students in the preliminary process of understanding the program and the application process. The Washington Center offers internships in various fields with numerous organizations such as, nonprofit organizations, U.S. Attorney’s Office, local doctors, D.C. public school system, and Arts programs. A student can find the perfect program that will help develop their specific career goals that could lead to a potential job in the future. “The professional and social atmosphere of D.C. drew me to the program, I knew the work experience offered would be unmatched compared to other internships, and it seemed like a more career oriented option than just study abroad” said Emily.
Emily Dasey worked for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy based in Alexandria, VA. After several phone interviews with different organizations, Emily chose this particular organization because it helps fulfill the track to her dream job as a Family Law attorney. She was able to see first hand how social beliefs impact laws and the political structure of the U.S. The work done in D.C. really connected with some of the sociological concepts she learned here at UMass Lowell, like community organizing and social policies. Overall, for Emily, the semester experience in D.C. has prepared her for a professional life. The networks built, the job connections created, and the personal growth achieved are unmatched in comparison to other programs. “It truly is an experience on your resume that puts you ahead of other graduates” said Emily.
Michael Wilkinson’s internship took place at Department of the Interior at the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. He primarily supported the OSMRE VISTA volunteer program under Dr. T. Allan Comp. Some of the projects he worked on included survey design, distribution, and analysis, poverty data research, marketing analysis, and database management. In addition to working 35-40 hours a week, Michael developed his community development skills through a civic engagement course. The course: Government and Business in the New Economic Reality; How Washington Really Works examined the question of “How can America remain competitive in this new, globalized economy?”. Throughout the internship and the course, he was able to apply sociological skills developed back at UMASS Lowell, such as survey design and data analysis. Michael took part in meaningful work that impacts real lives. His duties and research efforts assisted Americorp VISTA programs, which help towns effected by surface mining. The internship even brought him to a small town in Virginia, where he was able to see first hand the devastating effects of surface coal mining on the community. The experience helped him realize that the work he was doing in Washington actually positively effected a community and helped people. Similar to Emily’s experiences, Michael felt that “The work I have done has prepared me for working in a professional office environment in my future. Everything from the way I was expected to dress, to my relationships with my superiors, to sitting in once place for hours at one time was good experience. In addition to adjusting to these basic realities, I formed a solid network of contacts that will be valuable going forward. The work I did here will also be a major talking point for any resume I build or interview I have in the future. Most importantly, this job has provided me with an understanding of how things work in the real world.”
If you are interested in taking part in an internship at The Washington Center contact Dr. Francis Talty at Fracis_Talty@uml.edu
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