Summer Interns/Study Abroad 2014- Rachel Bowden

Rachel Bowden will be a 3^rd year history student as well as the VP of professional development this fall.

From May to July this summer, Rachel was interning in the education department at the Orange County Regional History Center in Downtown Orlando. Currently, Rachel is studying abroad in Cambridge, UK.

At the History Center, Rachel was responsible for the day to day operations of their summer camp administration as well as maintaining financial records for the program. She had the chance to meet many members of the Orange County government and learned how cultural programs fit into the government system. She said it was very interesting to learn all the work that went into making an exhibit which incorporated many departments such as sales, marketing, finance and collections.

Rachel is currently on a 4 week long research-based study abroad program focused on 19^th century European history. Rachel spent one week in Paris to kick start her research and is now spending three weeks at St. Edmund’s College in Cambridge to finish her research paper.

She loves being emerged in all of the history around her as well as being able to research the French colonization of Algeria during the 19^th century for her paper.

“The best part is that we are able to utilize the world-famous Cambridge University Library as a resource,” she said.

We are so proud that Rachel was able to grow professionally with her internship and study abroad program this summer, and cannot wait to see the great things she does as VP this fall!

Study Abroad 2014- Leila Jawad

Leila Jawad is a senior sociology student and will serve as head AVP of pledge development this fall. Leila went on the UF in Dominican Republic program for 6 weeks this summer. 

She took two courses: Service Learning and Dominican Culture and History. For Service Learning, she volunteered about nine hours per week at a local clinic where she learned the daily operations of a medical center, how to do sutures, administer injections, perform Pap smears and give patient care.

The clinic was in an extremely poor “barrio” which sometimes required them to make house calls. 

“House calls were one of my favorite parts because we got to see how our patients lived, though it was very sad,” she said.

For her Dominican Culture and History class, she stayed with a host family who only spoke Spanish.  She said it was one of the most challenging yet most rewarding parts of her trip because her Spanish improved so quickly.

We are so proud of the work Leila did in the Dominican Republic this summer!