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In May, New York State Medicare updated its services to include sex reassignment surgery for diagnosed cases of gender dysphoria, the medical term for individuals suffering from a discrepancy between their birth sex and mental gender. Although civil rights for the LGBT community are more permissive than they ever have been, much reform is still needed for this community to experience equality. Kate Cieplicki ’16, a psychology and women’s studies double major, is working in Philadelphia this summer to advance support services for LGBT individuals.

Abigail Keim ’15, with support from the Dan Fielding ’07 Fund, is applying her interest in psychology by interning at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence this summer. The Center for Emotional Intelligence is a research laboratory at Yale University that examines, as Keim put it, “the extent to which emotional intelligence currently affects people’s actions, experiences, and relationships.”

Although some job seekers complain about having to complete lengthy applications and of delayed responses from employers, finding the right person for an available position is an involved process. This summer, Rachel Hirsch ’15, a psychology major and mathematics minor, is working as a recruiting intern with the Human Resources department at the Warner Music Group (WMG) in New York City. She found the internship online and received support through the Career Center from the Joseph F. Anderson ’44 internship fund.

Jonah Feitelson ’15, with funding from the Summer Internship Support Fund established in 2005 by John G. Rice ’78, is interning this summer at the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) in New York City. NESRI is a non-profit organization that promotes movements for what it deems essential social and economic rights, including education, healthcare and housing.

Although the term “America” is often used to mean “the United States of America,” there is much more to America than our 50 states. Maggie Joyce ’16, a world politics major with a concentration on Latin America, is interning at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) in Washington, D.C., to promote precisely that idea.

Connor Miyamoto ’15, with support from the Scott Stephen Morris ’86 Internship Fund, is pursuing his interest in law this summer by interning at the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office in California. Public defenders traditionally represent individuals who cannot otherwise afford an attorney. As Miyamoto noted, “The attorneys at the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office share a common goal: to assist [impoverished] members of the Ventura County community by providing the most sound legal representation as possible.”

Few Americans have the chance to really get to know their representatives in Congress. Thomas Funk ’15, who completed his second internship this summer with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, is an exception. He worked at her congressional office in Washington D.C. and received funding from the Joseph F. Anderson ’44 internship fund to live in the capital city.

The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA) is a non-profit grassroots organization attempting to protect the water and other natural resources in Southeastern Massachusetts.  Founded in 1970, the group manages environmental restoration projects and now has over 1,500 members.  Emily Pitman ’15 interned at this organization this summer and reengaged her connection with the environment, while conducting scientific and legislative research.

This summer, Abigail Armstrong ’15 interned with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), an organization dedicated to providing a permanent and effective voice for women across the state.  The organization meets with legislators, endorses legislation and holds public hearings on topics related to women and the issues they face in today’s society.  Armstrong participated in the MCSW’s advocacy for fundamental freedoms and promoting women’s basic human rights, freedom and equality.

Overlook Medical Center in Summit, N.J., gives college juniors and seniors an opportunity to see what a career in medicine is like.  The Overlook Summer Internship Program (OSIP) allows students to shadow medical professionals and gain experience interacting with hospitalized patients.  Liza Gergenti ’14 took advantage of this summer offering and said that she “got a feel for what life during medical school and residencies will be like, including the long hours with very little sleep.”