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The senior year internship, a 216-hour commitment by the
students during the fall semester, is one of the defining
characteristics of the Public Policy Analysis Program. This
experience offers students the opportunity to put theory
into practice as they bring their personal interests and
academic preparation to work in a professional setting. Some
students discover new areas of interest, others find that
the experience solidifies their plans for professional
development. Many students use the internship experience as
the basis for their senior thesis research.
During the semester the program stays in contact with field
supervisors to evaluate students’ work. Students participate
in a seminar, which, in addition to broader academic goals,
offers them an opportunity to discuss their internship
experiences. At the end of the semester both students and
field supervisors complete evaluations of the experience.
These evaluations are used in a debriefing conference with
the program coordinator, associate director and student.
Because this is a professional experience it is not graded
even though academic credit is earned. Because it is an
academic experience, students are not paid by the
organization they work with.
Preparing to complete this requirement does require
planning. We encourage students to come by the program
offices to get questions answered by the director and
associate director early in their process of considering a
PPA major. Students may also attend one of the general
information sessions we host each semester.
Previous year's seniors, their academic concentrations and
internship placements are listed below. For examples of how
some recent PPA graduates have used their internship
experiences, see the Thesis Abstracts. |
| PPA
Internships 2008 |
| |
Biology
Maggie Canby, PPA/Biology, (Scripps), interned with the
County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health
Immunization Program. Maggie worked within the Advocacy,
Evaluation, and Promotion (AEP) unit. Maggie conducted
extensive research for the AEP unit and its partners on the
issue of increasing rates of Personal Belief Exemptions,
which lead to decreasing immunization coverage levels.
Samuel Cook, PPA/Biology, interned with both the Office of
Labor Standards Enforcement for the City of San Francisco
and the City of Claremont Human Services Department. Sam’s
research and projects for both of institutions centered on
Health Care Education and Advocacy
Chemistry
Sarah Buchman, PPA/Chemistry, interned with the County of
Los Angeles Public Health, Office of Women’s Health. Sarah
researched and wrote articles for the monthly community
partner communication, Health Note. The first article
highlighted the disparities in health treatment of
minorities and the second article was about the risk
factors, prevention and demographics of lung cancer. She
also contributed to the Prevention Matters newsletter for
the OWH. Sara was instrumental in the production of a
complete protocol binder for the Mobile Clinic Outreach
program.
Mackenzie Greiman, PPA/Chemistry, interned with the Non-GMO
Project, a non-profit based in Claremont. While at the Non-GMO
Project Mackenzie worked to further develop relationships
with partnering organizations. Mackenzie also attended the
Natural Products Expo in Boston representing the Non-GMO
Project.
Lily Hitchner, PPA/Chemistry interned with the East Valley
Community Health Center
where she conducted clinic policy research on best
practices, managed patient cases in the Cervical and Breast
Cancer Prevention Programs, and developed educational
materials for the STD Prevention Program.
Economics
Lech Kaiel, PPA/Economics, interned with the San Gabriel
Valley Economic Partnership. While there Lech researched and
created a Legislative Action Guide, implemented a survey of
the San Gabriel Valley businesses, and provided public
policy research on regional and state issues.
Emily Tamanaha, PPA/Economics, interned at the Los Angeles
Alliance for a New Economy. While there, Emily conducted
independent policy research around issues such as
environmental regulations in the hospital industry and
living wage issues. She attended and contributed to strategy
meetings, planned events, and participated in educational
outreach.
Jennifer Han, PPA/Economics, interned with Jack Mills, PhD,
Education Consultant.
Jennifer assisted Dr. Mills with a project funded by the
National Institute of Health-General Medical Sciences to
look at underrepresented minorities in science. Jennifer
transcribed interviews, analyzed CSUN Institutional Research
historical trend data, and conducted a literature review of
the research on mentoring programs in general and in the
sciences.
Politics
Jorge “Nico” Anwandter, PPA/Politics, interned with L.A.
County Neighborhood Legal Services. Nico assisted
self-represented litigants answer unlawful detainer
complaints, and complete legal paperwork in the area of
family law. He explained court process and procedures and
legal terminology so that clients understood issues in their
cases. Nico also assisted with the training of new
volunteers.
Rebecca Dale, PPA/ Politics, History, interned with
EcoSecurities, a locally located world-wide developer and
supplier of emission reductions. Becky authored the
companies’ weekly legislative updates which reflected her
knowledge and research of the carbon markets world-wide,
climate change policy, and EcoSecurities.
Caroline Flynn, PPA/Politics, interned with the House of
Ruth whose mission is to advocate for and assist women and
children victimized by domestic violence. After completing a
state mandated forty-hour training, Caroline had a broad
range of responsibilities. She worked as a Shelter Advocate,
accompanied clients to court, and assisted in the
residential facility.
Zuleika Godinez, PPA/Politics, interned with Uncommon Good,
a Claremont non-profit that connects school-age mentees to
community mentors. Zuleika conducted extensive statistical
research regarding poverty, drop-out rates, and detentions
for surrounding communities, counties of Los Angeles, and
California. Additionally Zuleika conducted researched and
wrote two small-sized grant proposals. Zuleika also spent
time “in the field” working with the Uncommon Good Family
Services Coordinator.
Michelle Pham, PPA/Politics, interned with Los Angeles
County Neighborhood Legal Services in the Workers’ Rights
Unit. Michelle assisted in the representation of low-wage
workers before the State Labor Commissioner, conducted wage
calculations for penalty claims, and conducted legal
research on a specific wage claim case.
Jonathan Peterson, PPA/Politics, interned in the offices of
Los Angeles Unified School Board member Tamar Galatzan.
Jonathan developed both a business and non-profit data-base.
He wrote articles for the Board Members newsletter, and
researched and wrote briefing papers for Board Member
Galatzan on the District’s new Per-pupil Funding model, the
World Languages Initiative, the Developer Fees Program and
resolutions to support Congressional legislation.
Sociology
Jennifer Rojas, PPA/Sociology, interned for Claremont
Unified School District in the office of Secondary
Education. Jennifer supported work for the Career and
Technical Education program. She participated in grant
writing, data collection, and designing informational
material and mailers.
Melissa Hanna, PPA/Sociology, interned with Skatebook, an
organization focused on the world of skateboarding. Melissa
worked on many projects including market analysis, data
analysis, hiring and supervising a data entry team, and
coordinating projects for the producer of their broadly
published coffee- table book, Skatebook.
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| PPA
Internships 2007 |
| |
Biology
Jameson Lam, Biology, worked for the American Red Cross in
their Pomona office doing quantitative analysis. Jameson
analyzed data from blood drives, looking for trends and
frequencies. One project involved looking at efficiency,
another looked for high school penetration.
Jodie Pham, Biology, interned with COPE Health Solutions, a
nonprofit health organization that aims to create a
cohesive, integrated system of care for the
uninsured/underinsured. Jodie’s focus was on developing the
Mobile Echo Project. The Project’s goal was to bring mobile
echocardiograms to local community clinics in a timely,
convenient, and cost effective manner.
Chemistry
Economics
Kari Wohlschlegel, Economics, interned with Crossroads, an
organization that provides housing, education, support, and
counseling in a home-like environment for women who have
been incarcerated. Kari coordinated the Crossroads Advocacy
Project, which seeks to raise awareness regarding the
Governor’s overturning of parole suitability for women who
are in prison for life.
Geology
Physics
Politics
Kelly Hewitt, Politics (Scripps), interned with the
Claremont Unified School District. Kelly aided the Director
of Secondary Education in the development of two new
district projects – a foreign language program for the
elementary schools and a vocational program at the high
school level. Kelly conducted research and created materials
to help guide the Planning Committees.
Koko Umoren, Politics, worked with the ACLU of Southern
California. Koko interned in the legal intake department,
screening calls and conducting research.
Psychology
David Sherer, Psychology, worked for Public Works, an
educational consulting group contracted out by schools,
districts, and boards to monitor and evaluate various school
reform and intervention policies and programs. David
consolidated and summarized survey responses, compiled test
performance data, and interviewed teachers and
administrators.
Sociology
Christina Lee, Sociology, worked for the Los Angeles
Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness in downtown L.A.
Christina’s work focused on educating others about
homelessness; she designed a presentation and fact sheets to
go on their website.
Christopher Ramos, Sociology, interned at the Housing Rights
Center of Los Angeles. This organization’s purpose is to
give general landlord/tenant counseling and to pursue
discrimination claims. Christopher worked under the lead
attorney to conduct research, including networking with
other organizations, obtaining reports and testimonies, and
writing editorials.
Karla Ruiz, Sociology, interned with the Neighborhood
Partnership Housing Services of Montclair – an organization
that provides education on homeownership for low-income
buyers. Her projects included creating a survey, helping
with customer intake, marketing, and office duties.
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| PPA
Internships 2006 |
| |
Biology
Erika Graves, Biology, interned with the Office of Women's
Health, County of Los Angeles. Her projects included
creating educational brochures for low-income, uninsured
women, attending health fairs and mobile clinics, and
contacting legislators as part of a public policy project.
Lily Muldoon, Biology, worked with the
East Valley Community Health Clinics in Pomona and West
Covina, an organization that strives to provide quality and
accessible comprehensive health care and health education
services to low income and underserved populations.
Lily designed and conducted small research studies and
created brochures on various health care topics.
Chemistry
Nora Becker, Chemistry, participated last spring in the Claremont
McKenna sponsored Semester in Washington, D.C. program,
where she interned full time in the office of US Senator
Barack Obama of Illinois.
Economics
David McDevitt, Economics, interned with the Los Angeles
County District Attorney's Office in Pomona. David
monitored case files, conducted an independent research project, and sat in on
trials.
Geology
Physics
Brett Close, Physics, interned with the South Coast Air
Quality Management District. Brett conducted research
on solar energy policy around the world.
Politics
Sarah Axeen, Politics, interned with the Los Angeles
Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness. Sarah
researched and wrote a 'Know Your Rights' guide for
participants in the Section 8 subsidized housing program in
the City and County of Los Angeles.
Stephanie Lin, Politics, worked with the Orange County Asian
Pacific Islander Community Alliance, a service and advocacy
organization that works to empower Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders in Orange County. She
recruited and organized volunteers, interacted with other
counties on an Asian Pacific Islander voting project, and
tutored for an after-school program.
Hala Masri, Politics, interned with the Coalition for Humane
Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, an organization that
advocates for immigrant rights through organizing and
political advocacy. Hala worked on several research
projects.
Andrew Nourafshan, Politics, worked at Energy Harvester, a
company that designs and builds custom renewable energy
systems for commercial, residential, non-profit, and
government buildings. His work primarily focused on
marketing, doing policy research, and drafting grant
proposals for the company's "fold and ride" bike program and
the creation of a bike-transit center at the Claremont
Depot.
Julie Nudel, Politics, interned at Mediation Resources, an
organization that provides low-cost services in mediation,
conciliation, and arbitration to the surrounding community.
Julie conducted credit conciliation cases over the phone on
a regular basis and developed her own clientele.
Femke Oldham, Politics, worked at Stratecon, Inc., a
strategic planning and economics consulting firm
specializing in water and other natural resources. She
researched water policy news stories for the firm's private
monthly newsletters, wrote weekly memos summarizing major water stories
around the country, and discussed water policy issues with
the head researcher.
Nora Petty, Politics, also interned at the LA County's
Office of Women's Health, an organization that conducts
education and policy projects geared towards enhancing
access to care for low income, minority women. Nora
worked on policy-related projects, drafted letters to
legislators, and helped with preparations for the Women's
Health Summit that will take place in May 2007. She
also compiled a weekly memo of health policy and women's
health news for the office.
Psychology
Christie Canales, Psychology, worked for San Antonio High
School, an alternative high school in the Claremont Unified
School District. She worked directly with the Dean of
Students/Guidance Counselor.
Elyse Cooper-Smith, Psychology, interned at the Pomona
Neighborhood Legal Services Center, assisting unrepresented
litigants with family and tenant law matters including
paternity, dissolution of marriage, and eviction.
Casey Lamb, Psychology, worked for Public Works, an
educational consulting group contracted out by schools,
districts, and boards to evaluate the implementation of
policies and grants. Casey worked with the LA Unified
School District's Smaller Learning Communities Project,
performing a quantitative and qualitative analysis of how 22
LAUSD schools were implementing this Project.
Lauren Mitchell, Psychology, also interned at San Antonio
High School, an alternative high school in the Claremont
Unified School District. She worked as the Principal's
intern and interacted regularly with the Office Manager,
Vice Principal, Dean of Students, teachers, and students.
Katherine Walker, Psychology, also worked at Neighborhood
Legal Services in Pomona, assisting unrepresented litigants
with family and tenant law matters including paternity,
dissolution of marriage, and eviction.
Sociology
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| PPA
Internships 2005 |
| |
Anthropology
Nathan Brody,
Anthropology, interned with the Los Angeles District
Attorney’s Office in Pomona. He assisted with criminal
prosecutions and conducted research for one of the District
Attorneys on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Biology
Lisa
Parrillo, Biology, worked for Casa Colina, a rehabilitation
hospital that is mostly focused on physical therapy. Lisa
worked with the research department on a project that
restructured a health risk assessment interview.
Lauren Shaw,
Biology, worked with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.
Lauren synthesized information on Garden events, conducted
research on horticulture therapy, and helped with native
plant sales and educational sessions.
Benjamin Spector,
Biology, worked for Compassion Net, an organization that
provides portable health clinics to the uninsured and
working poor. Benjamin acted as a project manager for a new
health clinic in Pomona. He contacted community
organizations to recruit their support, designed a system
for patient flow at the clinic, and assisted doctors at the
health clinic.
Chemistry
Economics
Jessica
Isaacs, Economics (Scripps College), interned at the Center
for Community Action and Environmental Justice in
Riverside. She helped to write grants to promote community
participation in environmental issues such as air and water
pollution.
Shana Yu,
Economics, interned at the Children’s School at Claremont
McKenna College. Shana worked as a teacher’s assistant in
the first and second grade classroom.
Geology
Physics
Politics
Megan Cribbs,
Politics, worked with the Summer Scholars Enrichment Program
at Pomona College – a summer program that seeks to educate
first-generation college students, students of color, and
students from low socio-economic backgrounds about their
opportunities for higher education. Megan assisted with the
development of the program and with the creation of a
database of local high schools.
Becca Gourley,
Politics, interned with Sycamore Elementary School in
Claremont. Becca researched and contacted other multi-age
elementary schools to assist the principal in establishing a
coalition of similar schools. She also spent time in a
4-5-6 grade classroom.
Katherine Moskop,
Politics, interned with Public Counsel, a public interest
law firm that provides pro bono legal services to several
different segments of the LA population. Katherine worked
in the Homelessness Law Prevention Project. She processed
applications, attended Homeless Court sessions, and
participated in legal aid clinics at homeless shelters.
James Solomon,
Politics, interned with Vista Elementary School in
Claremont. He was a teacher’s aide in a fourth and fifth
grade class. He tutored students, taught lessons to small
groups of students, and graded assignments.
Alexandra Wakeman,
Politics, worked with Uncommon Good, a non-profit agency
based in Claremont that provides social, educational and
medical services to low-income and homeless children as well
as a loan-forgiveness program for law and medical
professional who work in public clinics. She developed
grant proposals, gave organizational support, recruited
mentors/tutors, planned fundraising events, and assisted the
Development Director with research and solicitation letters.
Psychology
Gabriel Audant,
Psychology, interned with the Ontario-Montclair School
District in the Curriculum Planning Department. He designed
pacing guides and grade-specific tests in cooperation with
ETS and prepared resource materials for teachers. Gabriel
also had the opportunity to work with children at a local
elementary school, providing individual instruction to both
advanced and remedial students.
Erin Haley,
Psychology, worked at the Los Angeles County Arts
Commission. Erin worked with the Arts for All Project,
which provides a series of policy changes and educational
initiatives to institutionalize a comprehensive arts
education in LA County School Districts. Among other tasks,
Erin conducted research for an online technical assistance
database.
Sociology
Veronica
Rebal, Sociology, interned with the Healthy Start/Youth and
Family Support Center – a school-based resource and referral
agency that assists low-income students and their families.
Veronica shadowed community workers, reorganized the office
intake system, updated the office resource and protocol
manual, and provided research and project development
support for community workers.
Julia Unruhe,
Sociology, interned with the Inland Valley Council of
Churches. The mission of the IVCC is to empower people
through feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and
counseling those in need. Julia coordinated fundraising
events, contacted member churches, and did intake at the
food bank.
Science, Technology and Society
Matthew
Anderson, Science, Technology, and Society, interned at the
Pomona Self-Help Legal Access Center, assisting
unrepresented litigants with family and tenant law matters.
Other Concentrations
Kameelah Rasheed,
Africa/Diaspora, worked for the LA Chapter of Critical
Resistance, an organization that seeks to reduce the need
for policing and incarceration. Kameelah developed the
curriculum to be taught to recently imprisoned women living
in a transitional home, developed outreach materials, and
drafted elements of the ‘No New Jails’ proposal.
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| PPA
Internships 2004 |
| |
Anthropology
Biology
Lamar Lee, Biology, interned with Planned Parenthood in Los
Angeles.
Chemistry
Economics
Shelagh Cooley, Economics, interned at Pomona City
Hall, reporting to the Deputy City Manager. Jessica wrote
the policy and procedures manual for the Finance Department
and researched and presented an economic report on the
station location for the Gold Line.
Nick Dreves, Economics,
interned with Eco-Securities Limited, an international,
environmental finance firm that works primarily on
greenhouse gas mitigation projects. His duties included
research, policy analysis, and project preparation and
documentation.
Michael Henry, Economics,
interned with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy – a
labor and poverty think tank and activist organization. He
researched and summarized topics and developed and
translated surveys. He also did direct action advocacy, such
as worker training and strike support.
Lisa Merrill, Economics,
interned with Pomona Unified School District, in
Instructional Services. She helped to organize the data
analysis training, which shows teachers and administrators
how to use standards to improve learning.
Ryan Tacher, Economics,
participated in the Claremont McKenna sponsored Semester in
Washington, D.C. program, which fulfilled his internship
requirement.
Geology
Physics
Daniel Rosenholtz, Physics, interned with the Government
Affairs Committee of the US Green Building Council.
Politics
Kenisha Dilliard, Politics, interned with the Commission for
Economic Development in Los Angeles.
Cyrus Dioun, Politics, interned with the Foundation for
Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.
Ben Feldman, Politics, interned with the Secretary of State,
LA Office. Ben organized a voter registration and education
campaign at the Claremont Colleges.
Rachel Holben, Politics, interned with the Pomona Valley
Center for Community Development. She worked with the
Director to develop curriculum, grant proposals, and other
details geared toward opening a new charter school within
the Pomona Unified School District.
Lucas Holl, Politics, interned with the Pomona Unified
School District in the Department of Instructional
Technology.
Ellen Smith, Politics, interned with Uncommon Good, a
non-profit agency based in Claremont that provides social,
educational, and medical services to low-income and homeless
children as well as a loan-forgiveness program for law and
medical professionals who work in public clinics.
Psychology
Erica Lai, Psychology, interned with the Public Counsel Law
Center, a pro bono law firm in Los Angeles. She ran legal
clinics, approached homeless youth, screened clients, helped
with legal concerns, and followed-up with clients.
Sociology
Jessica Case, Sociology, interned at Shoes that Fit, a
nonprofit organization that provides shoes and school
supplies to needy children in the Inland Empire.
Carla Hinojosa, Sociology, interned at
Oakmont Elementary School in Claremont. She worked as an
assistant for two teachers – working one-on-one with
students on reading and math skills and also teaching an
after-school art class.
Jonder Ho, Sociology, interned with the
Healthy Start Program of the Claremont Unified School
District. Jonder worked with children in an after-school
program, compiled a resource manual of social and health
services, and attended community-wide meetings.
Perris Straughter, Sociology, interned
with The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange
County.
Science, Technology and Society
Claire Rostaczer, Science, Technology, and Society,
participated in the Claremont McKenna sponsored Semester in
Washington, D.C. program, which fulfilled her internship
requirement.
Other Concentrations
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| PPA
Internships 2003 |
| |
Anthropology
Susan Hsieh, Anthropology, interned with the Office of
Women’s Health in the Los Angeles Department of Public
Health. She reviewed and organized their educational data
base. She also assisted with the mobile health clinic by
providing translation support in English and Mandarin to
clients and by reviewing brochures for accuracy and cultural
appropriateness in translation.
Biology
Nate DeFelice, Biology, interned with the Industrial Areas
Foundation Los Angeles office. He conducted research into
health care for low income residents of the San Gabriel
Valley and examined voter registration rates in forty
targeted precincts.
Mike Mello, Biology, interned with the Pacific Center for
Health Policy and Ethics, based at the University of
Southern California/Los Angeles County Hospital. He worked
under the direction of the Co-Director of the Center to
develop a plan to ensure access to medical care for the
county’s uninsured and medically indigent. He analyzed
reports, books and journal articles that dealt with county
needs and issues of ethical allocation of medical resources.
He interviewed several medical professionals to get
first-hand insight into the current system.
Jeff Mora, Biology, interned with the San Bernardino County
Department of Public Health AIDS/STD Control Programs. He
participated in writing grant proposals. He analyzed the
federal AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides
HIV-related drugs to persons living with HIV/AIDS. This
research required that he interview recipients, program
staff and state and local experts. His work will help the
County Health Department determine how they might have to
modify their program in light of federal funding changes.
Julie Schulz, Biology, interned with Planned Parenthood Los
Angeles. She worked both at their administrative office and
at their Pomona Center. She provided research assistance for
special projects at the administrative office and
participated in oversight of the 12 area clinics at the
administrative office. At the Pomona clinic, she observed
day-to-day functions and provided education to clients on
family planning and reproductive health care.
Jason Woo, Biology, interned with the Healthy Start Program
in the Claremont Unified School District. He had two major
areas of responsibility: conducting outreach to families to
let them know about available options for health care
coverage; and organizing recreational and academic
after-school activities for children who live at a local
hotel that houses low income families.
Chemistry
Economics
Tom Krebs, Economics, worked in the Instructional Technology
Office of the Pomona Unified School District. He spent most
of his time researching issues related to the economic
impact of federal funding for secondary career and technical
education programs. He used this information to review and
modify the school district’s Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Grant.
Elizabeth Redman, Economics, worked with the San Gabriel
Valley Economic Partnership. She had two major areas of
responsibility: public policy and business assistance. She
had the responsibility to research particular state and
federal policy impacts on local economic growth; the
information she gathered is being used for planning and
development as well as for setting the organization's 2004
policy agenda. She also provided direct client counseling to
facilitate the expansion and relocation of San Gabriel
Valley businesses.
Geology
Physics
Politics
Pamela Burga, Politics, also interned at MALDEF. She worked
with their Los Angeles Regional Counsel to research the
effectiveness of charter schools in California to meet the
needs of Latina/o students.
Amanda Fein, Politics, interned at the Children’s Rights
Project’s Guardianship Clinic sponsored by Public Counsel, a
pro bono law firm in Los Angeles. She prepared petitions for
guardianship and conservatorship through Probate Court. She
also conducted research for an ongoing evaluation of recent
legislation affecting children and relative caregivers.
Tony Forte, Politics, interned at Sycamore Elementary School
in the Claremont School District. He worked under the
supervision of the principal to develop an education program
and brochure for parents about the impacts of the federal No
Child Left Behind Act.
Rabiya Kassam-Adams, Politics, interned with the Libreria
del Pueblo Calpulli Project, a community based organization
in San Bernardino. She translated several information
brochures and provided English as a Second Language
instruction to members of the community, and compiled a
history of the organization and its staff.
Andrew Tyler, Politics, interned at the Pacific Council of
International Policy, the western partner of the Council on
Foreign Relations. He conducted original research on the
international connections of California’s Central Valley and
assisted the Council’s President in research and fact
checking for an upcoming book. He also helped organize and
attended the Council’s annual conference on foreign policy
that was held in Seattle, WA.
Psychology
Renee Faulkner, Psychology, worked at the YWCA based in
Ontario. She worked with the Program Director to develop
special projects for middle and high school students in the
areas of racial justice, anger management and "youth leading
a way for peace."
Abigail Haydon, Psychology, worked in the Policy and
Legislation Office of L.A. Care Health Plan, an HMO that
serves Medicaid recipients. She conducted research and
analysis for monthly reports and developed a policy paper on
strategies to expand the Child Health Disability Prevention
Program.
Sociology
Heather Callahan, Sociology, interned in the Department of
Pupil Resources in the Pomona Unified School District. She
collected data regarding truancy rates and helped develop
policy and procedures for intervening with chronically
truant students.
Verity Decker, Sociology, worked with Uncommon Good, a
non-profit agency based in Claremont that provides social,
educational and medical services to low-income and homeless
children as well as a loan-forgiveness program for law and
medical professional who work in public clinics. She
developed grant proposals, gave organizational support, and
participated in the mentoring program.
Lindsay Hill, Sociology, worked in the Personnel Department
of the Pomona Unified School District. She conducted several
special projects related to recruiting and retaining
certified teachers.
Leigh Jones, Sociology, worked with the City of Los Angeles
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. She helped the
Westlake Neighborhood Council plan and conduct outreach
projects to explain the purpose of the council and encourage
participation. She also assisted the MacArthur Neighborhood
Council organize and conduct their first election for the
governing board.
Ryley Share, Sociology, interned at The Media Project, a
small organization that provides information, research
assistance, script consultation and story ideas on sexual
and reproductive health issues to entertainment
professionals. She helped to organize their annual awards
program, updated their data base of resources, designed
their first on-line newsletter and created original story
ideas for some television shows.
Science, Technology and Society
Hilary Papendick, Science, Technology and Society (Scripps
College), interned at Kellogg Polytechnic Elementary School
in Pomona. She worked with staff, students and parents to
restore the schools California Native Habitat Garden. She
organized work crews for clean up days, successfully
solicited donations of clean-up equipment and new plants for
the garden. She worked with parents to create a structure to
keep the repair work in place after her internship finished
and successfully applied for a $600 grant from the
Constitutional Rights Foundation to help the parents in
their on-going efforts. In addition, she developed a
resource booklet for teachers that integrates California
Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics with
environmental education.
Other Concentrations
Laila Bernstein, Latina/o Diaspora, interned at the
Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
under the supervision of the Vice President for Public
Policy. She researched and analyzed issues relating to needs
of bilingual children in preschool and wrote a report on
immigration policy that was sent to the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
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| PPA Internships
2002 |
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Anthropology
Biology
Susan Caplow
Susan is interning at Mt. San Antonio
Gardens in Claremont. In addition to her responsibilities in
writing grant follow-up reports and developing suggestions
for new signage throughout the gardens, Susan has discovered
the joys of working with three-year-olds in the Magic Garden
Program.
Nicole Dumas
Nicole is working in the Community
Outreach Services Unit of the Los Angeles County Department
of Health. She has participated in several health fairs and
is assisting in the design and implementation of a formal
research project to assess needs of garment industry workers
who do not have health insurance.
Kathryn Freund
Kate is conducting research into
critical habitat for endangered species at the Riverside
County Resource Conservation District. She is learning how
to use GIS software by translating information from maps
onto the computer. She is also completing a data base on
native plant and animal species in the conservation
district.
Erin McCarville
Erin is working at The Center for
Community Action and Environmental Justice in Riverside. She
is gathering data on air, water and ground pollution and
evaluating the cumulative health effects in each area. She
is also helping to organize a region-wide conference on
these issues.
Virginia Mooty
Gina is learning about the multiple
strategies to improve air quality being planned and
implemented by the Air Quality Division, City of Los Angeles
Office of Environmental Affairs. She is devoting special
attention to a plan to cut truck and bus emissions near
schools. She has learned how to draft policy papers for the
city council and has represented the Air Quality Division at
regional planning meetings.
Chemistry
Kirsten Sasaki
Kirsten is working with the
Healthy Start Program, sponsored by the Claremont Unified
School District. She has conducted research to determine how
many students in the district do not have health insurance
and is developing and implementing outreach strategies to
enroll as many children as are eligible in the Healthy Start
program.
Economics
Albert Tsoi
Albert is interning in the Legislative Affairs office of
AIDS Project Los Angeles. He is conducting research and
writing a policy paper focused on the use of funds
distributed through the Ryan White Care Act. He is also
investigating the implementation in Los Angeles County of
the California law that allows public agencies to run needle
exchange programs.
Susan Yoon
Susan is also working with the Claremont Unified School
District Healthy Start Program. She is researching grant
opportunities for the program and participating in community
outreach activities such as “back to school” nights at local
elementary schools.
Geology
Anna Motschenbacher
Anna completed her internship
requirement during the Spring 2002 semester by participating
in the CMC Washington D.C. Semester program. She worked at
the Center for Science, Policy and Outcomes, a think-tank
affiliated with Columbia University in New York City. She
participated in planning a conference, “Living with the
Genie” and conducted research on “extreme events” such as
natural disasters and bio-warfare.
Physics
Politics
Lauren Akitake
Lauren is working at the Los
Angeles Coalition to End Homeless and Hunger in downtown Los
Angeles. She is indexing resource information for clients
and developing a data base of bill summaries for legislation
pending in Sacramento that will have an impact on the
homeless population.
Samuel Gaines
Sam is the third PPA senior who is
working with the Claremont Unified School District. He is
interning in the Office of the Superintendent, researching
and suggesting updates to various district policies. He has
also analyzed and developed graphs showing STAR English test
scores that will be presented to the school board.
Noah Helpern
Noah is learning about the
complexities of providing a quality education through his
internship at the Los Angeles Leadership Academy, a new
charter school in its first year of operation. Noah’s
primary responsibility is to research possible permanent
sites for the Academy – a task that has led him to discover
more regulations than he ever thought possible about
building codes for schools.
Matthew Muller
Matt is interning at the Public
Counsel Law Center, Immigration Rights Office, downtown Los
Angeles. Matt screens applicants for political asylum who
come to the Law Center seeking legal representation. He then
writes a summary of their request and makes a preliminary
recommendation to the attorneys as to whether or not they
should accept the petition. Matt also attends some
immigration hearings.
Sara O’Neil
Sara is receiving a comprehensive
look at municipal government through her internship in the
office of Los Angeles City Councilman, Tom LaBonge. Sara has
helped prepare briefing materials for council members,
attended council meetings and visited the multiple field
offices in Councilman LaBonge’s district.
Alexander Volberding
Alex is working at the
Witness for Peach Regional Office in Sherman Oaks. He is
organizing a speaker’s tour for the Southern California area
and is also helping to plan a trip to Colombia that local
representatives of WFP will take next spring.
Psychology
Sara Bernstein
Sara is evaluating Head Start
programs in the L.A. region for WESTAT, a research firm
based in Washington, D.C. Sara began working for WESTAT in
2000 and actually helped to design the research protocol
that she’s now helping to implement. The experiences have
offered her a valuable opportunity to understand the
implications of both research development and
implementation.
Sara Palmer
Sara is one of two PPA seniors who
had to change their internship placement after the start of
the school year. She is now working in the Legislative
Affairs Office of AIDS Project Los Angeles. She is assisting
in the planning for World AIDS Day in December and will soon
have other responsibilities as well.
Elizabeth Widmar
Elizabeth is the second PPA
senior who was faced with an unexpected need to change
internship placements. She is now working for Pomona Unified
School District in “The Village” education center. In
addition to getting an overview of the breadth of programs
and services they offer, she is doing critical analytic work
in looking at how certain grant monies are being used and
making recommendations for improvement and modifications in
the next grant cycle.
Sociology
Science, Technology and Society
Other Concentrations
Michelle Wilson, Religious Studies: Michelle is interning
with Pomona Access to Social Services (PASS), a program run
by the Pomona Inland Valley Council of Churches (PIVCC).
This program is designed to assist families in need of
emergency vouchers for food and shelter. In addition to
working directly with clients, Michelle has designed an
“attitudes and values” survey for clients that attempts to
discern what services they expect from PASS. She has just
begun to conduct the interviews and will analyze the results
and present findings to PIVCC.
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