Cornell Human Ecology has launched a new summer internship program in New York City focused on urban studies, community engagement and professional development.
The internship program places student interns at partner sites across the city’s five boroughs. For this pilot year, three students focused on youth development and worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, a longstanding partner with the Cornell Action Research Collaborative. They helped implement programs like Youth Engagement and Action for Health (YEAH!) Food Justice Program, a summer program where high school students learn about nutrition, conduct ethnographic observations of the food environment and present to stakeholders on solutions to improve the food environment.
Erini Williams ’26 and Jessica Han '26 participated in the pilot internship program, where they worked with teens in the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem.
“I learned so much about food justice,” said Erini Williams ’26, who is majoring in global and public health sciences. “As someone passionate about food equity, it was interesting to see how New York City and my home city experience food differently.”
The interns also helped develop an urban studies course that will prepare interns in future years with the skills and knowledge to successfully work at partner sites and help them understand the unique history that shapes New York City.
The internship included networking opportunities, too.
Eda Gunal ’25 said that the opportunity to connect with Cornell alumni helped her build invaluable networking skills as she enters her fourth year and looks toward post-graduate professional opportunities.
“Cornell has a great alumni network, and it can be a little intimidating when you don’t know where to start or who to talk to. This internship helped me start building relationships with people with similar backgrounds to my own,” she said.
The interns attended a President’s Council of Cornell Women symposium, alumni panels, and learned about the unique career paths of alumni living in the city.
"I was glad I had so many meaningful experiences to apply to my future career,” added Jessica Han ’26.
Daniel Kershaw ’78, exhibition design manager at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who gave interns a tour of the museum’s new exhibits, said he enjoys connecting with current students to expose them to potential career paths.
(From left) Eda Gunal '25, Jessica Han ’26, and Erini Williams ’26 visited a local shop in New York as part of their community engaged learning project. Mariam Lawal '25 (far right), a member of the Leak Research Group and a PRYDE Scholar, led the YEAH Program.
“When you go to school, you might have one concept of where you’ll go with it and what you’ll do with your education. Very often you’re surprised by things that you didn’t know would be exactly what you would be doing,” he said.
The new internship program is an initiative led by Tashara M. Leak, associate dean of Cornell Human Ecology in New York City. Leak is building more opportunities for faculty and students. In coming years, she envisions expanding the internship program to include tracks for students interested in design, health and medicine, and more.
“New York City is a great backdrop for students to expose themselves to the almost endless opportunities for their careers,” said Leak. “I’m excited to offer a new program where CHE students will benefit from the strong Cornell alumni network.”