Lauren Beers interned with ACCEL and gained experience with marketing and development in the non-profit sector.
How did you get your internship?
Early in the spring 2020 semester, I attended a career and networking event held by the College of Humanities called “Love Your Future.” After lunch, Stephanie Springer (the Applied Humanities Internship Director) introduced me to a COH alum Jessie Bustamante who worked for a nonprofit in Phoenix, and I connected with her on LinkedIn after the event. Several months later, and after my initial internship plans had been cancelled due to the pandemic, I messaged Jessie via LinkedIn asking if she knew any nonprofits looking for an intern. To my surprise, she was interested in having me intern with her company! I then started a few weeks later and am so grateful I attend the event.
Why did you choose this internship and what was the focus of your work?
I chose this internship because it has always been a goal of mine to work for a nonprofit. In the future, I eventually want to start my own nonprofit, so it was important that I learn the ins and outs of this sector. ACCEL also strives to make a difference in their community and supports a great cause that I am very passionate about.
Working with the social media team, I created new ideas that would generate more fundraising opportunities through our social media profiles. I designed fundraising posts through a social media calendar for our Facebook and Instagram page that would lead to receiving more donations and website interactions.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for their internship?:
The most important piece of advice I can offer to anyone looking for an internship is to reach out to everyone. Do not be shy, do not feel like you are bothering them, and utilize all your resources. It is easy to feel hopeless, but if you go the extra mile, it is sure to pay off. Reach out to your professors/internship director for help or advice, attend events held by your college and career fairs, reach out first to potential employers, and build your network! I had received a few internship opportunities by following the advice above and am very grateful I utilized all the resources that the University of Arizona and Applied Humanities department has offered me.