Meet the Interns: A Look Back at Summer and Forward to the Fall
As the sun sets on summer 2025, we're taking a moment to celebrate the incredible group of interns who spent their season with us. They've tackled challenges, shared their talents, and brought a wonderful energy to our team. As they prepare to transition into their fall routines, we're giving them a final moment in the spotlight. Dive in with us to read their thoughtful responses.
Ally Phan
Marketing & Digital Media
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I am currently attending the University of Washington, where I am majoring in Business and Education Policy.
How do you plan to prioritize your own mental well-being as you transition into your fall routine, whether it's school, work, or both?
Something that I want to prioritize as we head into the fall, is taking time to be offline. As a busy person, it's easy to treat a social media scroll at the end of a long day as "rest", however, nothing about doomscrolling and passive tech consumption is restful. Instead, being intentional about when and where I am using my phone, for instance, not scrolling when I'm eating breakfast or brushing my teeth, will be key to my mental well-being!!
Before summer slips away, what's a special experience you've already had (or what's still a must-do on your list)?
Given that I live in the Pacific Northwest, somehow, I have not had the chance to go on a proper hike so that is definitely a must-do on my bucket list. I'm definitely excited to hike Mt. Rainier again with my friend (a tradition we started last summer) and I'm looking forward to seeing the Lumineers in concert later this August!
What is your favorite food?
I could list a ton of foods but nothing is better than a bowl of my mom's phở!
Chigozie Okuagu
Measurement Intern
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I attended Boston University School of Public Health and I studied Epidemiology and Biostatics with a context in mental health and Substance Use
How do you plan to prioritize your own mental well-being as you transition into your fall routine, whether it's school, work, or both?
I plan on prioritizing my mental well-being as I transition into my fall routine by reminding myself to stay consistent with walking/exercise. For me, when a transition or change comes, especially when school starts, I stop prioritizing exercise and movement because I feel guilty. But recognizing that I don't have to feel guilty for taking 45 minutes to myself and creating non-negotiable activities, such as exercise or reading, throughout my week to take care of my mental well-being, will be how I prioritize my mental health.
Imagine a future where mental health is prioritized. What's one impactful change that you'd see?
When I envision a future where mental health is prioritized, one impactful change I would see is an increase in community. I think when mental health is not prioritized, people feel obligated to carry their burdens, experiences, and problems alone when that's not how we are made to operate as humans-- which I think contributes to the high rates of social isolation and loneliness despite social media.
What are your three favorite things to do for fun?
For fun I like to bake, go for walks, and hang out with my friends/siblings
Ginger McFadden
Workforce Development
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I currently attend VCU in the MSW program with a clinical concentration and focus in child welfare. Randolph-Macon college is my undergraduate institution and I did a double major in Sociology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies with an English minor.
If you could change one thing about the world (and you had unlimited resources), what would you change?
If I could change one thing, it would be to foster more empathy and compassion for our fellow human beings. Although it sounds simple, I believe that leading with empathy and compassion could make a monumental difference in bridging accessibility gaps and navigating life with a mindset that seeks to understand rather than to judge. Everyone has some degree of self-centeredness, but there needs to be a balance between that and caring for others in our communities.
In a more tangible way, I would ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals and eliminate food deserts. Access to quality food is essential for success, and hunger and health issues from a lack of access to healthy foods should not exist.
If you could meet one famous person, dead or living, who would you most want to meet?
I would probably say Malcolm X; however, I feel like I would be very nervous and not able to speak to him properly or really absorb what he is saying, but I would love to attend one of his speeches and hear him speak. Both to be in an environment where everyone has a shared goal, but also to witness it first hand.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most want to visit?
One place I definitely want to visit is Nigeria, because that’s where my partner is from. Eventually, I plan to take him on a tour of all the places I grew up around the Greater Richmond Area, and I’d love for him to do the same. I know it’s something he wants to do as well.
Other than that, I haven’t identified a specific travel destination yet. I know I want to travel, but I haven’t taken the time to think deeply about where. I want my travel experiences to be both fun and relaxing, but I’d also like to do service-related work in another country.
Bella Andres
Operations Intern
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I'm a fall 2025 grad at the University of Delaware studying PR Communications with minors in Legal Studies and Advertising!
How do you plan to prioritize your own mental well-being as you transition into your fall routine, whether it's school, work, or both?
This summer, I have become much more attentive of my needs and how I can better prioritize my mental health. I have started making time for the gym, getting back into playing the guitar, and setting a strict morning and nighttime routine. Doing these things has helped to regulate my mental health amidst changes in work and scenery (being home for the summer). I am planning on bringing these new routines with me to school and in my post-grad life to help me stay focused on myself as these have become my de-stressors!
Imagine a future where mental health is prioritized. What's one impactful change that you'd see?
I would hope to see workplaces and schools become forgiving of people needing rest days. For those that struggle with their mental health, sometimes an extra day of rest before jumping back into work is much needed and will allow them to perform at their best. Right now, extra mental health days off are not as normalized as they should be and I hope that in the future, taking a day off once in a while to regulate one's mental health will be the norm.
If you could change one thing about the world (and you had unlimited resources), what would you change?
I would change the way the world has hate towards one another. Life is too short to hold grudges or hatred towards others, and it promotes an unhealthy way of living. If everyone respected one another, the world would be a much better, happier place.
Jada Webb
Public Relations Intern
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I study Mass Communication at North Carolina A&T State University.
How do you plan to prioritize your own mental well-being as you transition into your fall routine, whether it’s school, work, or both?
As I transition into the fall semester, I plan to prioritize my mental well-being by setting intentional boundaries between school, work, and personal time. I will schedule regular check-ins with myself, practice mindfulness through journaling and quiet reflection, and lean into community—whether that is friends, mentors, or support groups. Protecting time for rest, joy, and creative expression will also be key to maintaining balance.
Before summer slips away, what’s a special experience you’ve already had (or what’s still a must-do on your list)?
One special experience I’ve already had this summer was traveling to Chicago for the first time with my friends. Exploring a new city together, trying new foods, visiting landmarks, and sharing late-night laughs made it such a core memory. Before the summer ends, I still want to carve out time for a weekend trip to relax, recharge, and reflect on all the growth this season has brought.
If you could change one thing about the world (and you had unlimited resources), what would you change?
With unlimited resources I would make sure everyone alive had a roof over their heads. Not having a place to go creates so many limitations physically and mentally.
Niki Sivasankaravel
Social Media Intern
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I’m graduating from Purdue University this May with a degree in Psychology. In the fall, I’ll be pursuing a one year master’s program at UChicago Booth (Master in Management).
How do you plan to prioritize your own mental well-being as you transition into your fall routine, whether it's school, work, or both?
One of the best ways I've learned to prioritize my mental health during the school year and during busy periods of my life is by carving out non-negotiable self-care time! Usually, I like to save my Friday evenings and block out time every week for self-care/any other activities that would boost my mental health. If I can't do it one Friday, then I just move it to a different day, but having 1 day or evening of self-care is something I tell myself not to budge on and to always honor so I don't burn out easily!
If you could change one thing about the world (and you had unlimited resources), what would you change?
I would change health inequity if I had all the resources in the world! I’ve experienced and seen firsthand the challenges of the healthcare system and its overall affordability and accessibility, so I would want to make healthcare equitable for all if I could.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most want to visit?
I’ve always wanted to visit Portugal and Spain!! The beautiful scenery, architecture and delicious food scene has always made me eager to visit one day. My family and I have a list of dream vacation spots we want to hit in our lifetimes and Spain/Portugal sits pretty high up on that list.
Samira Nur
Development Operations Intern
She/Her
What school do/did you attend and what are you studying?
I attend Northwestern University, where I’m majoring in Cognitive Science and minoring in Data Science.
Imagine a future where mental health is prioritized. What's one impactful change that you'd see?
One impactful change would be seeing mental health care treated as a normal part of daily life. Just like going to the doctor, people would feel comfortable talking to mental health professionals without stigma. I also imagine every school and workplace having built in mental health days, with emotional wellbeing seen as a valid reason to pause, reset, and take care of yourself.
Before summer slips away, what's a special experience you've already had (or what's still a must-do on your list)?
Before summer ends, something still on my list is waking up early and heading to the beach to catch one last sunrise with my camera.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is a Somali dish called Sambusa. It’s a crispy, triangle shaped pastry filled with seasoned beef and veggies. It’s really tasty and full of flavor! Read More
