100th SU Student Completes Global Internship Program

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University students have an opportunity to prepare themselves for the world after graduation, and part of that preparation often takes place at different locations around the globe. For 10 years, SU has partnered with the American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS) on it’s global internship program and this summer, Windy Spellman became SU’s 100th student to earn credits towards her degree as a member of the program.

Spellman, a psychology major with a minor in law, justice and advocacy, completed an eight-week internship in Dublin at the Ozanam House Resource Center, a community resource center funded by Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVP). SVP is an historic Irish mission of the Catholic Church that built social support centers throughout Maryland in the early twentieth century in support of Irish immigrants to the USA.

“Being around the kids who needed everything and being present to them was the most amazing experience,” said Spellman, who is from New Market, Maryland and is expected to graduate from SU in December. “It made me so thankful for what I have and helped me to better understand the real-world implications of social ills and criminality.”

Spellman traveled to Ireland to support a summer project that provided support for abused and neglected Irish children, who come from families with parents who are incarcerated, touched by addictions or suffer other serious disfunctions. 

Over two weeks, Windy helped build the activities that she then supervised for the following six weeks supporting the children. While Windy’s work during the day was serious and could be heavy to bear, she did not share it alone.  Other interns from around the USA and from different parts of Germany helped the Irish staff to run the summer program. 

Students in the program earn credits during fall, spring and summer terms by completing global internships in a variety of industries in destinations such as Dublin, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Sydney, and London. 

AIFS prepares students for their placement with a professional development program that helps students to improve their résumé, creates their first or improves an existing LinkedIn profile, and prepares them for an interview with the foreign company or organization that hosts the interns. AIFS then helps to match the students with an internship site abroad according to their career goals, provides housing and local transportation, and oversees student services for the student interns during their time abroad. 

SU faculty members supervise and assess the learning that students undertake on their global internship through online assignments from Salisbury.  Dr. Jennifer Cox, professor of communication, is the faculty director of the Fulton School Global Internship program. Cox supervises students from a variety of majors in the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts who intern around the world.

“The Fulton School prizes intercultural and experiential learning as integral components of a liberal arts education,” said Cox. “Sending students to work abroad with AIFS has enriched our graduates’ experiences and provided countless lifelong benefits for them.”

Her internship helped to move Windy towards her career goal of working for a federal law enforcement agency.  She plans to enroll in a Master’s degree program in terrorism analysis at the University of Maryland College Park after graduation.  

After hours, Spellman got to know her Germany and American colleagues. The interns traveled throughout Ireland and visited many castles from Cork to Galway. They even made it to Paris for the weekend just before the start of the Olympic games. She learned about Irish music, dancing, history and culture.  She also learned a great deal from her new German friends about the difference between German and American cultures.   

“SU’s global internship program is a nationally eminent high impact practice,” said Dr. Brian Stiegler, assistant provost for international education, who built the academic program in partnership with AIFS a decade ago. “SU is preparing students for careers in the global economy, with hands-on experience in industry and durable skills in global competency that employers seek.”

For Spellman, her global internship in Ireland was just the beginning.  She is looking forward to visiting her new friends in Germany and to inviting them to visit her in Maryland.

“I am so happy that I took advantage of this program,” according to Windy.  “It has changed the way I see the world”.

For more information visit http://studyabroad.salisbury.edu  and type “Global Internship” in the search bar. 

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.