The summer of 2019 was a powerful one for Wofford students.

From opportunities on campus to experiences around the globe, Wofford students spent the summer preparing for life beyond college.

Jara Dogan ’22, English major, Rock Hill, S.C. | Alex Rizzo-Banks ’21, economics major, Asheville, N.C. Catherine Todd ’22, Camden, S.C. Calin Wharton ’21, accounting major, Abbeville, S.C.

Dogan, Rizzo-Banks, Todd and Wharton continued work on “Back of the College,” a project that began in the fall of 2017, which reaches to tell the story of the AfricanAmerican neighborhood that used to exist behind Wofford. They worked collaboratively with Dr. Jim Neighbors, professor of English, to tell the story in a way that would be easily accessible to people of all generations.

“I’m excited to see this project really take off because it has the potential to improve and change people’s lives. It has a way of connecting and bridging gaps,” says Rizzo-Banks.

Mariana Gonzalez ’21, psychology major, Hickory, N.C. | Mayra LomeliGarcia ’22, psychology major, Charleston, S.C. | Sandra Lopez ’21, finance major, Enoree, S.C. | Hector Ortiz ’21, biology and Spanish major, Saulda, S.C. | Jay Stevens ’21, Spanish major, Spartanburg, S.C. | Naya Taylor ’21, biology and Spanish major, Boiling Springs, S.C.

The students participated in the project “Community-engaged qualitative research: improving outcomes for children and youth in Spartanburg, S.C.,” with Dr. Christine Dinkins, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Philosophy, and Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden, professor of modern languages, literatures and cultures. The research project sought to answer two questions: What are the factors that facilitate the life outcomes of children within the Highlands and Forest Park neighborhoods? and How do local Latinx teenage youth use their out-of-school time?

“As a native of Spartanburg, I loved having the opportunity to conduct research and work toward progress and development in my hometown,” says Stevens.

Emily Moore ’22, biology and computer science major, Inman, S.C.

Moore worked with Dr. Stefanie Baker, professor of biology, on the project titled “Effects of Ebola Secreted Glycoprotein (sGP) on Dendritic Cells,” determining whether secreted sGP plays a role in modulating the immune system’s response by interfering with function and maturation of dendritic cells, the cells that the Ebola virus attacks in the body. She was passionate about her research project because it combined two of her interests.

“What I loved about this project is that I was not only doing biological research and learning about how the body responds to different diseases, but I also learned about the computer programs that enable me to learn more about the disease,” Moore says.

Wells Osteen ’20, accounting major, Sumter, S.C.

Osteen was a tax intern in the Charlotte, N.C., office of Elliot Davis. She gained experience in tax returns, financial reporting, vouchers and accounting research.

“I enjoyed my work because I got to take what I have learned from my classes and professors at Wofford and apply it to real life situations to gain hands-on experience,” Osteen says.

Bryson Coleman ’21, English and sociology and anthropology major, Spartanburg, S.C. | Laura Futrell ’21, economics and Spanish major, Denton, N.C. | Meredith Goings ’21, Spanish major, Jackson, Miss. Jacob Hollifield ’21, history major, Chesnee, S.C. | Nneka Mogbo ’20, intercultural studies major, Douglasville, Ga. | Braden Tuttle ’20, finance major, Fountain Inn, S.C.

In its third year, the Tanzania summer internship experience, which is administered through The Space in the Mungo Center, had six students interning at the TATU Project and Silverleaf Academy. The students trained teachers, renovated a playground and shared accounting knowledge with small-business owners.

“I appreciated the communal culture in Tanzania,” says Tuttle, TATU Project intern. “The experience allowed me to gain a better understanding of cultures outside of the U.S. and how people in other parts of the world live and work.”

Charlie Pruitt ’20, history major, Greenville, S.C. | Jack Sullivan ’20, economics major, Atlanta, Ga./ Hendersonville, N.C. | Kendall Weaver ’20, international affairs major, Lexington, S.C.

Thanks to Atlanta business executive Michael S. Brown ’76, every year three Wofford students have the opportunity to participate in internships at the Aspen Institute in Colorado, an educational and policy studies organization whose mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. Pruitt worked in event advancement and fundraising. Sullivan spent his time working on the Aspen IDEAS Festival and with Aspen Conference Services. Weaver’s internship involved boosting community involvement in think-tank programs and events.

“The experience was a rich one, both professionally and personally,” Sullivan says. “There is no doubt that the Aspen Institute manages to provide a glimpse into fields of work around the world in a truly diverse way.”

Sam Padula ’20, mathematics major, Cambridge, Mass.

Through the support of the Papadopoulos Scholarship, Padula participated in research at Harvard Medical School. As part of Dr. Jeremey Gunawardena’s mathematic biology group, Padula’s research focused on the mathematics behind a specific gene editing tool. The experience allowed Padula to become more familiar with both theoretical and mathematical biology. He says he is thankful for the Papadopoulos Scholarship because it allowed him to pick the project and location that best fit his interests.

“My time conducting research at Harvard Medical School has been highly transformative, both personally and professionally,” says Padula. “It is opportunities like this that truly distinguish Wofford from other liberal arts colleges.”

Ruhi Patel ’20, chemistry and Spanish major, Spartanburg, S.C.

Patel interned at the Medical University of South Carolina, conducting research with a team of individuals who have been investigating the temporal mandibular joint. As a student on the pre-dental track, Patel says this experience has helped her understand the meticulousness and attention to detail required to generate results.

“I learned that research isn’t possible without collaboration between multiple individuals, which is what most stands out to me about this internship,” Patel says. “Sharing knowledge and new perspectives turns results into conclusions.”

Savannah Talledo ’21, chemistry and theatre major, Spartanburg, S.C.

Working in an environmental spectrometry lab at the University of Delaware, Talledo and her group researched nano aerosols and how they interact with the atmosphere. She used a process called droplet assisted ionization to study the aerosols in an attempt to find the optimal conditions for the aerosols for research and study.

“I wanted to see if a graduate chemistry degree was the right route for me,” says Talledo. “This summer proved that it certainly is. I had a great time while learning valuable skills, especially in the area of data analysis.”

Leila Shearer ’20, psychology and Spanish major, Duluth, Ga.

Shearer interned with Early Bird’s Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in Atlanta, Ga., as an in-home, one-on-one behavior therapist for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. During the internship, Shearer worked with clients using ABA to improve their adaptive behavior, communication and social skills. She found her time and work at Early Bird’s ABA rewarding and plans to stay in the field upon graduation.

“Seeing progress in a child I had been working with made everything worthwhile,” says Shearer.”

Madison McCreery ’20, government major, Madison, Miss.

As an intern at OTO Development, a hotel development and operations company, McCreery’s job was assisting the operations team with various projects. Her day-to-day duties included communicating with managers, updating databases, conducting market research and working the front desk of the AC Hotel in Spartanburg. “This has been such an amazing experience for my future career,” says McCreery.

“I have learned not only about the hospitality industry, but business as well. As a business minor, it tied in well with my academic studies.”

Jacorie McCall ’22, undecided major, Dillon, S.C. | Rik Ujaan ’21, international affairs major, Bluffton, S.C.

In Washington, D.C., McCall and Ujaan both gained experience that will help them prepare for their futures in the political field. As an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congressman Tim Rice, McCall’s work involved researching specific issues, providing office management support, interacting with constituents, summarizing reports and assisting with mail and telephone contacts. Ujaan, who was an intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, built a professional network while working on Capitol Hill and meeting with congressional and political liaisons in the Indian embassy.

“I have learned how Capitol Hill works through the lens of a very active committee,” says Ujaan. “I was reminded that work culture, the people who you work with and the location of your work are extremely important.”

Clare Flaherty ’20, history and sociology and anthropology major, Davidson, N.C.

Flaherty interned at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., as a manager for the Smithsonian Summer Camp. She coordinated field trips for over 90 summer camps in addition to supervising youth counselors. “My favorite part of the internship was planning exciting trips,” she says.

“One of these was a kindergarten dinosaur camp field trip to the National Museum of Natural History, where the kids met two real paleontologists.”

By Kate Thomas