Welcome to our spring 2024 interns, our biggest advocates for mental health awareness! Every semester, our class of interns at Active Minds contributes to important initiatives, including chapter support, program development, fundraising, and so much more. We’re thrilled to see all the work our interns will do during these coming months and their contributions toward mental health awareness.
Cassandra Izquierdo (Development)
1. Where are you from?
I am from Garfield, NJ.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I am a junior at Rutgers University-Newark, studying public and nonprofit administration.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I am interning with the Development Team as the development operation Intern. I want to learn more about how nonprofit organizations keep relationships with donors.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Keanu Reeves; he just seems like a genuinely nice guy.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time reading on my Kindle or watching movies!
6. What is your dream job?
I would love to be a part of a nonprofit organization that focuses on childhood cancer research and awareness.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, or Belle from “Beauty and the Beast!”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I wanted to intern with a nonprofit organization whose mission and values align with mine as a mental health advocate. After learning more about Active Minds and reading about their impact on changing the stigma around the conversation of mental health and providing resources for the youth, I knew I had found the right organization.
Trace Terrell (Policy)
1. Where are you from?
I am from La Pine, OR.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I’m a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, studying public health and writing seminars.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I’m the policy intern! I look forward to learning more about the legislative process and the role of nonprofits in advancing youth and young adult mental health policy. I’m also excited to explore the functions of coalitions and organization networks in more depth.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Lorde.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I love exploring Baltimore and D.C.’s incredible food scenes, longboarding, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. I’m also a lifelong Lego lover and have almost all the botanical-themed sets!
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a Policy Analyst at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or a nonprofit.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
I would be Otis Milburn from “Sex Education.”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I wanted to intern with Active Minds because Active Minds helped save my life in high school. It was through them that I learned the skills to talk about and act on mental health in life, school, and community, which launched me into an academic and professional field that I love. By interning, I hope to make my experience a reality for other young people through policy mobilization and advocacy opportunities.
Anna Gefke (Development)
1. Where are you from?
I’m from Bethesda, MD.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I attended Wellesley College, graduating in 2021 and majoring in studio art with a minor in mathematics.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I am interning with the Development team with a focus on individual giving. I am excited to gain experience with researching new donors and learning how we cultivate positive relationships with current donors. Most of all, I can’t wait to connect and learn from as much of the Active Minds staff as possible!
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Greta Gerwig.
5. How do you spend your free time?
In my free time, I’m normally running, cooking, calling my family, reading, making art, or going to the movies.
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job is some sort of role in a community-oriented arts space.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
I keep thinking about a children’s book my mother used to read to me. A woman living in a cabin in early autumn befriends a grizzly bear when the scents of her breakfast draw him to her home. They sit surrounded by the colorful fall leaves, and she reads to him.
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
The Active Minds mission is so powerful. I was looking for experience in development and was really drawn to what Active Minds is working towards. If I had known about Active Minds while in college, I think I would’ve felt more comfortable talking about and taking on all that I was struggling with.
Sara Valencia (Chapters)
1. Where are you from?
I am from Orlando, FL.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I attend Duke University and am a neuroscience major with a certificate in human rights.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I’m a Chapters Team intern for the spring semester.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I’d love to meet Hozier.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I like reading historical fiction, watching A24 movies, and baking.
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a psychiatrist and global mental health researcher.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
I would be Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride & Prejudice.”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I wanted to work with an organization that recognizes the importance of providing mental health support and decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health struggles.
Aria Lovelace (Social)
1. Where are you from?
I am from Chesapeake, VA.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I go to Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in international relations and digital journalism.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
Social! I hope to gain some structured experience within the world of media and learn how to best engage with people.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet America Ferrera.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I love to read, watch movies (romcoms), and go on adventures in Richmond with my friends.
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a foreign correspondent or to work for an NGO in an advocacy position.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
I would be Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
Mental health advocacy is something very close to my heart. Being in a position where I can utilize the incredible resources that the Active Minds organization has to not only be a part of the conversation but also contribute as an advocate is an amazing opportunity.
Michelle Kim (Communications)
1. Where are you from?
I’m from San Diego, CA.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, double majoring in psychological and brain sciences and communication.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I’m interning for the Communications Team, and I’m excited to get the opportunity to work as an intern to uplift Active Minds’ mission and values. I like to write, so being able to channel this passion into mental health advocacy is really exciting! I hope to learn more about Active Minds’ brand identity and marketing strategies this semester.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Childish Gambino.
5. How do you spend your free time?
In my free time, I like going to live music shows, hanging with my family/friends, and going to the beach.
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job would be in brand marketing or creative direction in the entertainment industry.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
If I could be any character, I would be Donna Paulson from “Suits.”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I believe Active Minds is an organization that truly changes lives and helps empower young people like myself. As a communications intern, I get the opportunity to bring students’ stories to life through writing and change the stigma surrounding mental health conversations.
Jadon Demeritte (Community Programs)
1. Where are you from?
I’m from Nassau, Bahamas.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I attend Hartwick College and study biology and public health.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I am interning with the Community Programs and NextGen Initiatives Teams this semester. I am excited to grow personally and professionally. I look forward to networking within the mental health field and learning how to articulate my creativity through oral and written communication. I also hope to gain time management and organization skills.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
If I could meet one famous person, it would definitely be SZA.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time drawing, painting, running, or hanging out with friends and family. I also enjoy a little self-care movement binge-watching Netflix with a face mask on.
6. What is your dream job?
I am still working on what my dream job is, but I know that it will allow me to flourish and learn new information while improving the general quality of life. I want to make a social impact and eliminate the social determinants of health.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
If I could be any character from any movie, it would 100% have to be Beatrice from the “Divergent” series! I think she is so fearless, and I just love dystopian movies.
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I left the Active Minds 2023 Mental Health Conference inspired and eager to be more involved with the organization. I wanted to be a part of a community where young people’s experiences, thoughts, and ideas are amplified and supported.
Caroline Ross (Graphic Design)
1. Where are you from?
I’m from Lafayette, LA, and Fairfax, VA.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I graduated in the spring of 2023 from George Mason University with a bachelor’s in Graphic Design.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I’m interning for the Marketing and Communications department! I hope to gain an even better knowledge of the organization and create meaningful work to inspire change!
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Taylor Swift.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I like to spend my free time crocheting, running, sketching, and listening to podcasts.
6. What is your dream job?
My dream job is to become a full-time graphic designer, creating meaningful work that sparks conversation and creates change.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
If I had to be a character, I’d be Arya Stark from “Game of Thrones.”
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I have the incredible opportunity to create purposeful art that sparks conversation about the importance of mental health awareness and education.
Krystyn Whitty (Development)
1. Where are you from?
I’m from Summerville, SC.
2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?
I’m attending the University of South Carolina and studying psychology.
3. What department are you interning for, and what do you hope to learn this semester?
I’m working with the Development Team! I hope to learn how to make fundraising easier for chapters across the country and how to help them implement those strategies.
4. What famous person would you love to meet?
I would love to meet Hozier! A part of me doesn’t believe he’s actually real and I would like to verify his perfection in person.
5. How do you spend your free time?
I love to spend my free time cooking, doing yoga, and playing video games with my partner.
6. What is your dream job?
I hope to become a marriage counselor one day, but if I could add a dream element, I would be a marriage counselor on a reality show like “Married at First Sight.” I live for the drama.
7. Who would you be if you had to be a character from a book or movie?
I would be Marceline the Vampire Queen from “Adventure Time” simply because she’s insanely cool and has a great wardrobe.
8. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I am very involved with my university’s chapter of Active Minds and I love it! I was eager for an opportunity to expand on something that I already loved to do.
We’re looking forward to seeing all the advocacy our spring 2024 interns will contribute to for these coming months! Interested in how you can become an Active Minds intern? Learn more about the Active Minds internship program and how you can apply to join us next semester here.
