Internships Shape UMW Students’ Summer Experience

Anshu Adhikari, Class of 2025

Developer, Synctivate

Senior Anshu Adhikari has worked for the Center for Career and Professional Development and University Communications, but this summer she wanted to work off campus where she could make a global impact. As a developer for Synctivate, a software solutions company, as well as a data intern for the non-profit Code for Nepal, she’s putting her computer science major to work.

Originally from Nepal, Adhikari is passionate about data-driven technology and tackling complex problems. Adhikari’s journey in computer science has been shaped by both academic and hands-on experiences. She chose UMW because a volunteer from Code for Nepal graduated from there, and Fredericksburg’s sister city status with Kathmandu made it compelling.

Adhikari found her Synctivate internship through a professor who connected her with the company’s president. She shared, “I find great fulfillment in being a developer, particularly in collaborating with talented individuals to create meaningful solutions. The blend of creativity and technical skill required in development is truly exhilarating.”

Post-graduation, Adhikari plans to continue in tech, pursue an MBA, and eventually start her own startup, applying her experience and passion for technology in innovative ways.

 

Claire Feil, Class of 2025

Elementary Education Curriculum Support Intern, Washington Heritage Museum

Claire Feil is spending her summer at the Washington Heritage Museum as an elementary education curriculum support intern. While focusing on the museum’s Twilight History Camp for youth, she also supports various elementary education initiatives, such as creating coloring pages.

A senior majoring in historic preservation and minoring in museum studies, Feil has an educational background, including experience as a paraprofessional and having a mother in special education, fueling her passion for teaching and accessibility. Initially enrolling at UMW to major in education, she discovered a love for museums through some of her first courses.

Feil was awarded $2,000 this summer through a recent V-TOP grant received by Mary Washington, which will help her cover some living expenses. Even more valuable is the experience she’s gaining from her on-the-job mentor, Anne Darron, a graduate of UMW’s first historic preservation class in 1983. Darron began her own career as an intern at Fredericksburg’s Mary Washington House.

Feil shared advice with students who have yet to explore internship opportunities: “Find something you’re comfortable doing but also pushes and challenges you.”

 

Adam McAninley, Class of 2027

Congressional Intern, U.S. House of Representatives

One year into his college career, rising sophomore Adam McAninley has already landed a national internship with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans in Washington, D.C.

“By the time I arrived on campus, I had already begun researching a variety of internship opportunities,” said McAninley, a Washington Scholar with an environmental science and political science double major, and a law and philosophy minor. “[I] concluded the best place was the source of federal policy – Capitol Hill.​”

The experience has fueled his penchant for policy making and legislation and created memories. Among his favorites is sitting in the House of Representatives Gallery during votes. “After seeing all the time and background work that goes into getting even a small amendment to a floor vote,” he said, “seeing representatives finally get to vote on it is super humbling.”

He plans to attend law school after graduating from UMW and hopes to work in environmental policy law, aiming to advocate for sustainable solutions. In the fall, he’ll serve as Honor Council president, Pre-Law Club vice president, and continue to serve as a Washington Tour Guide for the Admissions Office.

 

Oulimata Ngom, Class of 2026

Office Manger, LOK Fashion Institute

Finding her perfect fit seemed to come at the perfect time for transfer student Oulimata Ngom. After leaving James Madison University and searching for opportunities closer to her hometown, she found UMW, as well as LOK Fashion Institute, where she’s interning as an office manager.

A connection to fashion may not be an obvious choice for Ngom, an international affairs major with a minor in French, but Ngom knows her priorities as they pertain to her career interest. She hopes to work for a nonprofit or government agency that supports ethical practices in the garment industry and transparency in the supply chain.

“When I see the fabrics used in class sessions, they typically state they are made in Vietnam or Bangladesh,” she said. “It leaves me wondering if the garment workers in these countries get paid well while making this product. As consumers of these fabrics, what can we do to better their working conditions if they are not being well treated?”

The internship has also given her a chance to learn from some incredible women, such as owner and mentor Marie King, who studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Additionally, Ngom has connected with another professor, Nadine Lane, who, like Ngom, is from a French-speaking African country, allowing her to deepen her cultural understanding and brush up on her French. Ngom also plans to perfect her sewing skills, making the most of every opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

Ngom will serve as the Virginia Intern Day ambassador for the Center for Career and Professional Development. She’ll continue to share more of her story through their social media channels.

 

Carlos Ortega, Class of 2025

Student Trainee, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division 

For Carlos Ortega, setting himself up for success is a top priority. A senior majoring in computer science with a minor in cybersecurity, he’s a first-generation college student paving the way for his family and his community.

“Many aspects of this journey are new to me, as I didn’t have anyone to guide me, but I’m learning and growing every day,” said Ortega, who found a summer student trainee position at the Dahlgren Naval Base thanks to a connection made by a UMW professor. “The environment and community at UMW are supportive, with professors who genuinely know and care about their students, always willing to help them succeed.”

Ortega said the internship has pushed him to expand his knowledge of the field every day, which “keeps my work exciting,” he said. He also feels as though what he’s doing is making a difference when he has the opportunity to develop innovative solutions.

After graduation, Ortega plans to pursue a master’s degree in software development while working full time at Dahlgren, leveraging his education and skills to contribute to an assortment of projects.

 

Kai Otero, Class of 2025

Field School Student, Monticello-UVA Archeological Field School

Kaira Otero is an experienced intern, with several years of work in the Office of University Communications, where’s she’s often featured on flagship social media posts and regularly hosts Mary Wash Mic Talks. While she has a flair for chatting up fellow students about all things UMW, her passion is to pursue a career in archaeology.

A historic preservation major, she discovered the selective Monticello Field School opportunity – out of about 30 applicants, fewer than half were selected – on a wall of internships in Combs Hall. Otero’s favorite part of the experience was “learning from all of the archeologists at Monticello,” she said. “You could tell that they were passionate.”

She also appreciated the chance to apply knowledge from her classes and explore her interests in colonialism, slavery, and Native American history through her work on a plantation where enslaved people lived, and ancestral Monacans hunted and gathered.

“When I applied to and got into this field school, it was very nerve-racking because I knew it would determine if this is what I wanted to do or not,” she said. “I ended up loving it.”

 

Adam Shinberg, Class of 2026

Field School Student, Monticello-UVA Archeological Field School

Junior Adam Shinberg found his way to the UVA-Monticello Archaeology Field School through Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker, who provided him with a wealth of job and internship opportunities. Excited by the prospect, the historic preservation major applied and was accepted.

For Shinberg, history is more than just a subject; it’s a tangible connection to the past. “I’ve always been drawn to the physical remains of all types of history. Being able to uncover the true history of Monticello was very inspiring to me,” he said. “It’s one thing to see artifacts in a museum or printed on a paper, it’s a completely different feeling to hold that history in my hands.”

He finds it challenging to choose just one favorite moment from his field school experience but recalls a memorable field trip to Coan Hall on Virginia’s Northern Neck. “It was fascinating to see the difference in sediment, artifacts and overall archaeological processes compared to Monticello,” he said. “The archaeologists were very nice and welcoming, and the long drive allowed me to bond with my classmates.”

After graduation, Shinberg hopes to be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and pursue a career as a field technician archaeologist at a cultural resource management firm.

 

William Thompson, Class of 2025

Project Manager, QRC Technologies HQ

William Thompson, a senior international business major, took advantage of the on-campus career and internship fair, an experience that paid off for him. Through the fair, Thompson found QRC Technologies, a National Defense Contractor.

Now working as a project manager, Thompson is involved in the creative process of building real prototypes. His favorite part? He gets to hold the physical devices and work alongside highly talented engineers. In the fall, he’ll be back on campus and has been elected as the SGA president for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Chances are he’ll tout the value of the many events the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) puts on each semester to support UMW students and connect them with opportunities.

The next Career and Internship Fair is coming up on Thursday, Sept. 26. Student registration opens on July 26th. While registration is not required, it is strongly encouraged to secure your spot. Students can register on Handshake.