Earlier this semester, the Student Sustainability Internship Advice Panel in Boger Hall brought together students passionate about the planet…and about landing internship and fellowship opportunities that help protect it! Hosted by the Sustainability Office and the Gordon Career Center and moderated by B Frankenstein ’25 and Natalie Sweet ’25, the event featured three insightful panelists: Isadora Leviton ’25, Emma Hotchkiss ’25, and Jonah Yas ’25, who shared their unique paths to landing sustainability- and enviro-focused summer internships!
The panel wasn’t just about résumé tips or buzzwords. Students talked about the stress of applications, the challenge of feeling under-qualified, and the importance of taking initiative. We recently spoke with B Frankenstein about the event!
Hi, B! Tell me about the internship panel and this year’s participants!
The Sustainability Office at Wesleyan has a long-standing tradition of hosting both a Sustainability Internship Panel and an Alumni Sustainability Panel each spring semester. These events serve a key purpose: to get students thinking early and practically about their future in the field of sustainability.
For each of these panels we make a point to choose panelists who represent work across the sustainability spectrum. Emma, Isadora, and Jonah all had amazing summer experiences last summer and were able to share those experiences, and how they secured them, with attendees.
What has your personal experience been like in landing internship opportunities?
I personally leaned into Wesleyan-specific opportunities to build my experience. Over the summers, I’ve worked as the Sustainability Office Assistant, served as the First Things First Intern, and done research in the Earth & Environmental Science Department. I secured these positions by not being afraid to apply to something I wasn’t sure if I was 100 percent qualified for, and by building relationships with the faculty and staff around me. My biggest takeaway is that Wesleyan has a lot of resources to offer you, if you’re willing to seek them out!