Category: Undergraduate Students
Celebrating experiential learning
October 27, 2025 Written by Natasha Kapadia | Photos by Zoe Pawliczek
More than 90 students share internship experiences at symposium
On October 8, the College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the power of experiential learning during the 2025 Internship Symposium.
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Student Success Center and WSFS Bank, the event brought together students, faculty and employers to highlight the diverse internship experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world application.
Attendees learned how students navigated the internship process, explored funding options and connected with employers and campus partners offering future opportunities.
Over the course of two sessions, students representing a wide range of majors from art conservation and neuroscience to political science and communication, shared their experiences through poster presentations and three-minute lightning talks.
It is important to take part in experiential learning for UD students, according to Caleb Everett, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Experiential learning is key to a UD education, connecting theory with real-world practice,” he explained. “Through internships, research, and community work, students build skills, gain confidence, and explore career goals.”
Real-World Experiences
Sophomore biology major Rachel Dash discovered the Empower Fellowship through the partnership between the Student Success Center’s Co-Curricular Coaching department and the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
After receiving an email from the College of Arts and Sciences, she attended a discovery day and applied for the fellowship.
She was accepted for what became her first research experience.
Dash said she was drawn to the fellowship because of its supportive community and accessibility to students with little or no prior research background.
“It was incredibly rewarding with the connections that I made,” she said, adding that the experience strengthened her perseverance and confidence as a pre-med student.
She encouraged others to apply even if they are unsure about research, noting that the fellowship is “a great first step into research.”
Game studies and esports management major Michael Cheng found his internship with Futures First Gaming through the Student Success Center and the help of staff mentor Lois Stoehr, who guided him through the application process.
Although Cheng’s background is in programming, the internship pushed him to explore teaching and communication.
“It was more like teaching, so I thought I might as well just try it,” the senior said.
His biggest takeaway from the internship?
The importance of stepping outside his comfort zone.
“Try something new, even if it’s not what you’re comfortable with,” Cheng advised, explaining that the opportunity broadened his perspective and opened doors to new interests within the gaming industry.
Another student presenter, Donovan Sarver, a junior visual communications major, interned with Paul Campanella’s Auto Center, a family-owned business in Delaware.
Over the summer, he worked on website redesigns, flyer layouts and social media campaigns that promoted the shop’s services to local customers.
When unexpected staff changes shifted responsibilities, Sarver acclimated quickly, taking on additional tasks and learning “a lot about adaptability.”
He said the experience taught him that success comes from teamwork and communication.
“Be open to new experiences. You learn so much more than just your field; you learn about people.”
Andrew Bertoli, a senior double majoring in psychology and criminal justice, talked about his internship with Harford County CASA during the lightning talks.
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, a nonprofit that supports children navigating the family court system, trains volunteers to serve as consistent mentors for children in transitional home situations.
“This was an extremely valuable opportunity for me to apply both of my majors at once because you’re dealing with the well-being of children,” Bertoli explained.
Additionally, economics and mathematics major Cassidy Craft also spoke during the lightning talks about her internship with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
She found it through UD’s Semester in Washington, D.C. program, and her internship focused on compliance monitoring and data analytics, helping ensure that state and local governments followed proper reporting procedures for federal funding distributed under the American Rescue Plan Act.
“I was able to grow my skills in data analysis, project management and outreach,” she said, explaining that she worked with email datasets, organized recipient information and supported new interns through training documents and meetings.
Craft described the experience as a valuable opportunity to connect her analytical background with public policy.
“I made so many connections,” she said, adding that her mentors became “recommendations, mentors, whatever I need in the future.”
Champions of experiential learning: Honoring faculty members
“Champions of Experiential Learning are mentors, advocates, and innovators who go above and beyond to create opportunities that challenge, inspire, and prepare our students for meaningful careers and engaged lives,” said Dean Everett. “They ensure our students graduate with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to make a difference in the world.”
This year’s honorees included:
- McKay Jenkins, Cornelius Tilghman Professor of English, whose courses engage students in environmental writing and hands-on projects with communities from Delaware to Baltimore.
- Chrysanthi Leon, professor of sociology, who connects research, mentorship, and social justice through the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, fostering empathy and understanding.
- Kassra Oskooii, associate professor of political science and international relations, who expands access to legal internships and career experiences through innovative partnerships and fundraising.
- Bennett Maruca, associate professor of physics and astronomy, who brings students into real-world NASA research, mentoring them on rocket and CubeSat projects that build technical and collaborative expertise.
