| by Mary Zuccarello

News Stories

The Middlebury Institute’s experiential learning program offers students the opportunity to work with organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Through semester-long practica, students take on internships, jobs, and consultancies that allow them to apply skills and knowledge gained through their prior coursework in a professional setting. These experiential learning courses serve as stepping-stones to their future careers. 

Daron McDonnaugh, IPD '22
Daron McDonnaugh, IPD ‘22, is working with Catholic Relief Services in Monrovia, Liberia this spring. 

International Professional Service Semester (IPSS)

The International Professional Service Semester (IPSS) is an experience designed for students in the IPD, IEP, NPTS, and MPA programs. 

This semester, IPSS fellows are working in cities including Monterey, New York, Washington D.C., and Anchorage in the United States. Internationally, students are working in Switzerland, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Liberia, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, Ghana, and Togo. 

Heather Cook IEP
Heather Cook, IEP, is working as a Marine Biology & Policy Research Assistant in Koh Seh, Cambodia this spring. 

The following section highlights students currently participating in Middlebury Institute’s Professional Service Semester. 

Name Organization Location
Grace Hansen Coastal Flood Resilience Project Washington, DC
Tomas Lynch Persephone Biosciences San Diego, CA
Dillon Green Business for Social Responsibility San Francisco, CA
Diane Sikkens Environmental Defense Fund San Francisco, CA
Julie Stasiuk ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Geneva, Switzerland
Megan O’Leary Blue Sky Maritime Coalition Houston, TX
Mia Fahad National Park Service (NPS) Marine Debris Program Fort Collins, CO
Annie Howley Fallaron Strategies San Francisco, CA
Larissa Sison California Department of Food and Agriculture Sacramento, CA
Richard Vasquez Jr. Fashion Revolution and Women Forward International London, England
Elisabeth von Halem Doselva

Granada, Nicaragua

Bridget Mulkerin Valley Verde San Jose, CA
Alice McGown FracTracker Alliance Johnstown, PA
Sophie Anolick Foreign Policy for America Washington, DC
Moira Pieri WWF, Forests, Sustainable Natural Rubber Washington, DC
Tessa Varvares National Parks Service Oil Spill Cleanup Project Washington, DC
Alexis Wilkman African Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC
Elise Birkett National Wildlife Federation’s Climate and Resilience Education Taskforce (CRETF) New York, NY
Alexandra Cleveland Root Change Washington, DC
Alexandra Eisinger Conservation International Washington, DC
Howard Vogt Finless Foods Emeryville, CA
Olivia Cable-Barber Fair Carbon Project, Gallifrey Foundation Geneva, Switzerland
Tabitha Birdwell California Delta Stewardship Council/Program - California Sea Grant Fellow Sacramento, CA
Laura Sanchez National Parks Service (NPS) Oceans and Coastal Programs Arctic Project

Anchorage, AK

Emily Stokes Conservation International Ocean Science Team Washington, DC
Heather Cook Marine Conservation Cambodia

Koh Seh, Cambodia

Nick Rahaim Sustainable Seas Technology Middle Haddam, CT
Akira Nishiyama Real Good Fish Monterey, CA
Louise Shurvinton Bradley Oceana Monterey, CA
Michael Boice Due Diligence Associate, CryptoCurrency San Francisco, CA
Ernesto Aguirre UN Office of Counter-Terrorism New York, NY
Alexandra Patton UN Office of Disarmament Affairs Conventional Arms Branch New York, NY
Cynthia Tiendrebeogo UNFPA Lomé, Togo
Katherine Treat Appleseed Impact and UNICEF New York Watsonville, CA and New York, NY
Karyos Tus USAID Washington, DC
Ruth Krabacher Healing & Reconciliation Institute Monterey, CA
Jessica Adam Appleseed Impact Watsonville, CA
Alexis Roberts GlobalSF San Francisco, CA
Steve Vetarbo UNICEF Ghana and Conflict Dynamics International Accra, Ghana and Cambridge, MA
Lameese Madi UNICEF Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar
Ellen King International Development Group Washington, DC 
Mona Rezvani Office of Public Affairs - Baha’is of the US Washington, DC
Alexa Cardello Growing Home, Inc. Chicago, IL
Daron McDonnaugh Catholic Relief Services Monrovia, Liberia
Ari Korreshi City Manager, City of Rochester

Rochester, MI

International Education Management (IEM) Practicum

The International Education Management Program provides students with practical experience in the field of international education including study abroad, education technology, international exchange management, and international student and scholar services.  

The following section highlights students currently participating in the International Education Management program. 

Name Placement Location of Org .
Elizabeth MaKenzie Stallo Champlain College Champlain, VT
Gabrielle O’Conner Oakton Community College Chicago, IL

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Practicum Capstone

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching Foreign Language (TFL) students are combining reflective practice and professional development in preparation for careers in language education.

The below list highlights the immersive professional learning experiences of TESOL and TFL students this spring. 

Name School Location
Kira La Rheir-Arias Monterey Adult School Monterey, CA
Sharon Situ Monterey Adult School Monterey, CA
Donha Derrick MIIS English for Academic Professional Purposes Monterey, CA
Zoya Erdevig MIIS English for Academic Professional Purposes Monterey, CA
Mujun Hu MIIS Language Studies-Chinese Monterey, CA
Burcu Chatham Riverside Literacy Programs Monterey, CA
Lauren Wilmore Polytechnic School Pasadena, CA
Katie Klein San Lorenzo Valley High School Felton, CA

Congratulations to these students on their contributions to their industries and fields of study this semester.

 

Middlebury Institute practicum courses reflect our focus on providing applied learning opportunities that help students enter their desired career field.
— Carolyn Meyer, Director of Immersive Professional Learning

For More Information

Carolyn Meyer, PhD
Director of Immersive Professional Learning 
cmeyer@miis.edu
831-647-6417