Henry Wilkerson, a Creative Intelligence and Innovation major and W.A. Franke Honors College student, interned with the Co-Design Collaborative and contributed to a literature review on how the identity of organizational members within the nonprofit sector affects their privilege and access to power.
How did you get your internship?
I originally found my internship by browsing through the University of Arizona Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) website, as I wanted to gain experience in a relevant field and hopefully receive compensation for it. Once I found the Co-Design Collaborative, I took the required steps in order to be considered for the team. This included filling out an application and scheduling an interview. After I attended my interview, I received the good news that I had been accepted and was invited to join the team!
Why did you choose your internship?
Last year, I had the opportunity to intern at an NGO in Ghana. During this time, I was introduced to concepts such as decolonization, and an overall concern with the ethics of international engagement. After seeing that the Co-Design Collaborative examines the ethics of international engagement, I was interested in applying. By completing my internship with the Co-Design Collaborative, it has not only allowed me to explore an area of personal interest, but also to build potentially relevant experience for my future endeavors.
What new skills did you develop in this internship?
During my internship, I developed a lot of skills. First and foremost, having the opportunity to work as a part of an intercultural team has been very enriching. Working with people from different backgrounds and nationalities is great, as it allows for different viewpoints to be exchanged. I also learned how to code interviews, a form of qualitative analysis. This required that I scan transcripts of interviews and assign specific content themes. On top of this, I practiced my writing skills by contributing to a literature review. Overall, this internship allowed me the opportunity to practice and develop skills that will be helpful in my future career.
What was your favorite or most enjoyable moment of your internship?
The most satisfying and enjoyable moment of my internship was definitely having the opportunity to present my team's research at a poster expo. Our research aims to have a positive impact on the world, so it felt great to spread awareness of some of the current challenges within the international development sector, as well as giving people tangible ways of how they can make an impact within their own community. Being there with the rest of my internship group was great, and we all got to receive positive feedback on our work. This moment was also special because we spent months completing this research, so to see our work come together for the poster presentation was very satisfying.
What did you find most challenging about your internship?
The largest challenge I faced during my internship is navigating a digital workspace. Since my internship was remote, being able to effectively communicate using email or Slack proved to be very important. I also found that it is sometimes difficult to gauge peoples true reactions or opinions over a zoom call, which can occasionally complicate decision making. However, I learned that maintaining a solid line of communication and being proactive are both essential things for navigating a digital workspace.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
My internship experience has been a great way to test out the waters in regards to what the right career for me looks like! Because of this internship, I hope to work in the non-profit sector in the future, and utilize the skills and knowledge I have learned to pursue a career that aligns with my values of ethics. I also learned that working in academia may not be for me. After having discussions with my site supervisor, I have made the decision that a job in academia does not align with my wants, needs, and values. Overall, my internship has left me feeling more confident in pursuing my future career.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?
I would tell students to pick an internship that they are personally interested in and that will develop them professionally. It is also important to just do it! At the beginning of my internship, I experienced a bit of imposter syndrome and felt as if I was not qualified to have a place on the team. What I failed to realize is that an internship is meant for you to learn and make mistakes! Everyone has to start from somewhere, and no one starts at the beginning already performing like an experienced professional. I would also advise them to foster a positive relationship with their site supervisor, as their guidance and potential future letters of recommendations can be very helpful.
What was the most significant contribution you made?
The most significant contribution I made was writing a section of a literature review. The literature review was on identity within the international development sector, and I analyzed the impacts of organizational members’ identity on their privilege and access to power. Before I began writing, I had to engage with quite a lot of outside literature to ensure that I was knowledgeable on the topic. Once in the writing process, I frequently consulted with my site supervisor for feedback on my section. In the future, this literature review will be published as a report!