In the News, News Stories

Sierra

This fall, Middlebury Institute students are completing experiential learning courses, practicum courses, and research theses all over the country and globe. They are conducting research and completing projects varying from supporting UNICEF’s emergency communications in Rome to nuclear risk reduction work with the Open Nuclear Network in Vienna. Whether conducting independent research or interning with international humanitarian organizations, MIIS students are gaining hands-on experience while contributing actively to their fields. 

The courses and research projects listed below offer students practical, experiential learning opportunities that bridge their academic studies with their professional interests. 

sierra
Sierra Lennon, an MA candidate in International Policy and Development, is completing her practicum as a Communications and Advocacy Intern with UNICEF’s emergency programmes in Rome, Italy. Working with the Education, Nutrition, WASH, and Child Protection teams, she creates social media content, data visualizations, and internal briefs that turn complex humanitarian information into clear, accessible messages for donors and partners. A highlight was preparing subtitles for a video series featuring children in Sudan speaking about what school means to them, a reminder that behind every report are real children whose lives are shaped by crisis.

International Policy and Development, Public Administration, and International Trade Practicum

Students from our International Policy and Development (IPD), Public Administration (MPA), and International Trade (ITED) programs have the opportunity to participate in meaningful experiences tailored to their professional goals. Students may choose to undertake a work project within an organization where they are employed or interning, collaborate on a client project with a partner organization, or engage in independent academic research that can be published in an academic journal or self-published via Middlebury’s digital platforms.

Below is a list of current student participants with their work location and organization.

Name  Organization Location
Xiangjie Wang (Gary) UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok, Thailand
Zihao Yin Asia Academic of Digital Economics  Collyer Quay, Singapore
Kangjia Yin International Telecommunication Union Geneva, Switzerland
David Slater Enabling Peace in Iraq Center Washington, DC
Chris Bonam US Commercial Service Ontario, California
Erin (Xinyue) Li UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Bonn, Germany
Ying Chen Artificial Intelligence Governance and Development Value Hong Kong, China
Yuebing Tan UN Children’s Fund Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Yilian Li UN Population Fund Istanbul, Turkey
Kellsey Beal Global Trade Alliance of America (GTAA) Washington, DC (remote)
Baoyi Cao UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok, Thailand
Dezhi Wang UN Environment Programme Paris, France
Jack Driggers Diverting Hate Monterey, CA
Sierra Lennon UN Children’s Fund Rome, Italy
Jason Harsha Food and Agriculture Organization Cairo, Egypt
Tsering Skeele Food and Agriculture Organization Praia, Cabo Verde
Ariana Venero-Rodriguez UN Children’s Fund Monrovia, Liberia (remote)
Caterina Wei Independent Research: Language as a Path to Conflict Transformation and UNICEF Education Section Monterey, California
gary
This fall, Xiangjie Wang (Gary), an MA candidate in Global Governance and Policy, is completing his practicum as an Economic Affairs Intern in the ICT and Development Section of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. The Section works to bridge the digital divide across the region through research, capacity-building, and policy dialogue. Gary’s work centers on supporting intergovernmental meetings and regional workshops, from drafting concept notes to developing session programmes. Outside the office, he goes bouldering every week, which has been a great way to meet people and settle into life in Bangkok.

MPA in Sustainability Practicum

MPA in Sustainability Practicum students are leading initiatives for schools, nonprofits, and businesses to advance environmentally sustainable solutions. They develop skills in sustainability and climate science, policy and social justice, sustainability assessment and disclosure, and sustainability strategy and action through real-world projects.

Below is a list of current participants, along with their organizations and locations.

Name  Organization Location
Lauren Hoglin The North Face/Wood Mackenzie Remote
Fred Rariewa Blue Skies Nairobi, Kenya

Professional Service Semester

The Professional Service Semester (PSS) is an experience designed for students in the Environmental Policy and Management and Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies programs to perform hands-on work with an external organization in their fields of interest. 

Below is a list of current student participants with their work location and organization.

Name (Program) Organization Location
Patrick Ertelt (NPTS) Open Nuclear Network (ONN) Vienna, Austria
Daihan Cheng (NPTS) Open Nuclear Network (ONN) Vienna, Austria
Yuqin Wang (NPTS) Open Nuclear Network (ONN) Vienna, Austria
Junjing Li UN ESCAP Bangkok, Thailand
Youlin Xie UNICEF Rome, Italy
Caleb Fineske FAO Bangkok, Thailand

International Education Management and Joint Public Administration/International Education Management Practicum

The practicum of the International Education Management (IEM) program is a critical opportunity for students to combine their academic knowledge with experience in the field managing international education programs. IEM students are working across the world with study abroad programs, language immersion programs, and other university programs.

Below is a list of current student participants with their work location and organization.

Name (Program) Organization Location  
Benjamin Cooper La Universidad de Vigo Vigo, Galicia, Spain  
Madeline Brown Middlebury School in Spain Madrid, Spain  
Brittany West The Naval Postgraduate School  Monterey, CA, USA   
Ellen Grinnell EF Education First Cambridge, MA  
Cameron Ford American Councils for International Education Washington,D.C.,USA  
Ramiro Pinedo Jr. Chapman University Orange, CA, USA  
yilian
While pursuing her first master’s degree at Moscow State University, Yilian Li, now an MA candidate in International Policy and Development, dreamed of a UN internship in Istanbul, a crossroads of cultures and home to many UN regional offices. Thanks to MIIS, that dream is now her everyday life at UNFPA’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Office, where she is the office’s first Chinese intern. Highlights include helping secure US$15,000 in private sector sponsorship for a regional census workshop and drawing on her Mandarin, English, and Russian to explore cooperation between China and the EECA region. Outside the office, her commute comes with a daily count of Istanbul’s neighborhood cats.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Teaching Foreign Language Practicum 

Our students in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching Foreign Language (TFL) programs are gaining experience with students and educators in real classroom settings, while participating in reflective practice and progressing their professional development.

Below is a list of current participants for both programs with their organizations and locations.

Name  Organization Location
Samuel Castillo Individual work Monterey, CA
Samuel Collins Individual work Monterey, CA
Siyuan Geng Individual work Monterey, CA
Xiao Geng Individual work Monterey, CA
Xinying Huang  Individual work Monterey, CA
Lauren Leyes  Individual work Monterey, CA
Araomis Medina Alejandro Individual work Monterey, CA
Javier Sevilla At Grandma’s Table — Japanese translation project Monterey, CA
Ouya Wang Individual work Monterey, CA
TI
In mid-October, Translation and Interpretation students, faculty, and guests gathered for a cultural panel. The conversation highlighted the diverse perspectives and experiences that make the MIIS community unique.

Translation and Localization Management Practicum

The Translation and Localization Management (TLM) program practicum is designed for students to gain practical experience by designing and completing their own localization-related research projects, participating in an internship at international companies, or working for a nonprofit organization such as Women in Localization. Some students are also given the opportunity to mentor first-year TLM students. The projects and internships all have a learning component, and students are expected to share their experiences with each other to foster knowledge sharing. The work is typically completed remotely. 

Name  Organizations
Corrine Kang TransPerfect
Annabelle Chang Women in Localization
Yuting Zha Translation Commons
Songyun Wu N/A
Lucas Vinet N/A
Yining Xu N/A — Research project (Monterey County)
Katerin Torres Red Cross
Tyler Bar-Ness N/A
Jiayin Shen (Candace) SRRSH Hospital
Yi Wang
(Kaya)
N/A
A.J. Ristino Siemens DISW - L10n
Enjin Wang N/A — YouTube Localization Project 
Sabrina Estrada Resident Assistant
Holly Renshaw Alterea Inc
Yusen Zhou N/A — Team YELL Game Localization
Siyuan Geng N/A — Student-led game development and localization project
V Reiter Women in Localization
Yufei Li N/A
Fangyu Xu N/A — Rental War Game Localization
Michelle Lee N/A — Rat Tag! Game Localization
Codi McBride TAMC Fellowship
Wenxena Spencer Rock East Funding
Heling Li Women in Localization
Yihao Cui SRRSH Hospital / Rock East Funding
Rachel Haberman Women in Localization
Zaiana Banzaraktsaeva Translation Commons
Samantha Lin Clear Global
Ziying Fang N/A — Rental War Game Localization / App Localization
Lauren Leyes Orange, Inc.
Shruti Shekhadar Women in Localization
Shivani Balachandar Wing Song Interactive
TI
In late October, MIIS welcomed a delegation from Soka University for a live interpretation demonstration. Visitors got a firsthand look at the skills and training behind professional conference interpreting.

For More Information

Experiential Learning

experientiallearning@middlebury.edu