Four students partnered with local non-profit Caroline House to conduct research that engaged donors and yielded operational recommendations.
This summer Fairfield Dolan established a new internship opportunity, the Social Impact Summer Internship Program, to connect students seeking valuable internship experience with local businesses in need of assistance. Four students took part in the program and worked with employees at local Caroline House to address strategic initiatives.
Caroline House is a non-profit community partner dedicated to teaching English language and life skills to immigrant women. Executive Director Lucy Freeman tasked Dolan students with conducting research to determine how best to operate Caroline House during a pandemic.
Management and marketing double major Malen Iglesias ’22, and economics majors Donald Ciampi ’21, Elizabeth Benson ’22, and Helen Vasquez Ramos ’24, strategized ways for Caroline House to facilitate a successful virtual fall transition and actively engage their donor base. Working remotely, the group translated and disseminated a survey to the organization’s 4,000 donors to determine the type of information they would like from Caroline House, and to assess their interest in virtual and in-person fundraisers. Additionally, they evaluated their clients’ needs and determined their comfort level in returning to classes offered at Caroline House. From the data collected students formalized two reports recommending ways Caroline House might proceed with services post-pandemic.
“The Dolan Social Impact Summer Internships Program furthers Fairfield Dolan’s Jesuit mission of educating socially responsible professionals by combining practical research that helps service organizations become more effective with opportunities for students to serve others and to learn from those they serve,” said Fr. Greg Konz, special assistant to the dean, Dolan School of Business.
This unique opportunity gave the students a chance to display their talents and skills for the greater good of those they were serving. They brainstormed ideas, analyzed data, curated surveys, and presented their findings and recommendations.
Economics Professor William Vasquez Mazariegos, PhD, mentored the students. “This internship made the students think outside of themselves and help people who are struggling, not only with the current pandemic, but with trying to find their footing in this new society," he said. "By helping Caroline House and their beneficiaries, the students have become more socially aware — realizing that not everyone lives in the same conditions as they do, and they have become more morally responsible by noting that their work has some impact on a broader community.”
Fairfield Dolan will expand the Social Impact Summer Internship Program next summer to provide opportunities for up to 10 Dolan students and will start accepting applications in February. For more information please contact the Fairfield Dolan Career Development Center.
Caroline House is a non-profit community partner dedicated to teaching English language and life skills to immigrant women. Executive Director Lucy Freeman tasked Dolan students with conducting research to determine how best to operate Caroline House during a pandemic.
Management and marketing double major Malen Iglesias ’22, and economics majors Donald Ciampi ’21, Elizabeth Benson ’22, and Helen Vasquez Ramos ’24, strategized ways for Caroline House to facilitate a successful virtual fall transition and actively engage their donor base. Working remotely, the group translated and disseminated a survey to the organization’s 4,000 donors to determine the type of information they would like from Caroline House, and to assess their interest in virtual and in-person fundraisers. Additionally, they evaluated their clients’ needs and determined their comfort level in returning to classes offered at Caroline House. From the data collected students formalized two reports recommending ways Caroline House might proceed with services post-pandemic.
“The Dolan Social Impact Summer Internships Program furthers Fairfield Dolan’s Jesuit mission of educating socially responsible professionals by combining practical research that helps service organizations become more effective with opportunities for students to serve others and to learn from those they serve,” said Fr. Greg Konz, special assistant to the dean, Dolan School of Business.
This unique opportunity gave the students a chance to display their talents and skills for the greater good of those they were serving. They brainstormed ideas, analyzed data, curated surveys, and presented their findings and recommendations.
Economics Professor William Vasquez Mazariegos, PhD, mentored the students. “This internship made the students think outside of themselves and help people who are struggling, not only with the current pandemic, but with trying to find their footing in this new society," he said. "By helping Caroline House and their beneficiaries, the students have become more socially aware — realizing that not everyone lives in the same conditions as they do, and they have become more morally responsible by noting that their work has some impact on a broader community.”
Fairfield Dolan will expand the Social Impact Summer Internship Program next summer to provide opportunities for up to 10 Dolan students and will start accepting applications in February. For more information please contact the Fairfield Dolan Career Development Center.
