Pictured from left to right. Row 1: Jennifer (Jenn) Yu ’22, Jessica Wu ’21, Hayley Moniz ’22. Row 2: Rachel Hodes ’21, Eshika Kaul ’23, Charnell Jones ’23.

Six Wellesley College students recently began internships through the Class of 1967 Internship Program at the Wellesley Centers for Women. Throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, each student intern will gain social science research experience and be mentored by a WCW research scientist. The internships will primarily be virtual, with potential for in-person components as the public health situation evolves. Interns will have opportunities to help with data collection and analysis in ongoing research studies, contribute to academic journal articles, attend virtual conferences, and present alongside their mentors.

The named internships, which were established by generous gifts from Wellesley College alumnae and friends of WCW, are awarded each year to Wellesley College students who seek to make a difference in the world through research and action.

Meet the 2020-21 interns:

Rachel Hodes ’21
The Class of 1967 Internship

Rachel began working as a research assistant with Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D., in 2019. They will continue working with Dr. Charmaraman to study the risks and benefits of adolescent social media use.

“I am really excited to continue working with Dr. Charmaraman and to delve more deeply into her work on social media use among underserved populations. In addition to building my own social research skills, I look forward to learning more about an aspect of the modern world that is increasingly relevant and studying the effects it is having on youth.”

Charnell Jones ’23
The Anne Murray Ladd Student Internship

Charnell will work alongside mentor Jennifer Grossman, Ph.D., to study how teens and their families talk about sex and relationships.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Grossman because, in addition to allowing me to pursue my growing interest in adolescent development and its role in adult sexuality, I believe this project will also give me valuable research experience and mentorship.”

Eshika Kaul ’23
The Morse Fellowship

Eshika will develop a research study examining the long-term impacts on children who witness domestic violence under the guidance of mentor Wendy Wagner Robeson, Ed.D.

“During my Civic Engagement Alternative Break to a domestic violence shelter in Maine, I came face to face with the “hidden victims” of intimate partner violence – children. Through my research study, I hope to identify long-term impacts and nuanced connections between the experiences of those who witnessed intimate partner violence in their childhood and their current behaviors, which can ultimately benefit professionals in more supportive environments and better treatments.”

Hayley Moniz ’22
The Class of 1967 Internship

Under the mentorship of Linda Williams, Ph.D., Hayley will study the justice system response to sexual violence and support the work of the Justice and Gender-Based Violence Research Initiative.

“I wanted to work with Dr. Williams because of her commitment to approaching every issue intersectionally. I am excited to work for the Justice and Gender-Based Violence Research Initiative to help identify and correct the gender discrepancies in the criminal justice system today.”

Jessica Wu ’21
The Linda Coyne Lloyd Student Research Internship

Jessica will work with mentor Sari Pekkala Kerr, Ph.D., to study women’s entrepreneurship as a pathway to social mobility.

“I wanted to work with Professor Kerr after taking her “Women in the Economy” course where I learned about the unique pressures women face in being entrepreneurs. I look forward to studying the social mobility of lower-income women in entrepreneurship, especially during a time like this where we see the unequal distribution of household labor exacerbated by the current pandemic.”

Jennifer (Jenn) Yu ’22
Shirley R. Sherr Student Internship

Under the mentorship of Georgia Hall, Ph.D., Jenn will assist on a research evaluation project of an afterschool STEM program for girls.

“I was interested in Dr. Hall's research because it focuses on afterschool programs – often overlooked but pivotal institutions that empower youth, especially young girls. As an Education major, I am excited to explore and research the effects of afterschool programs, and how they impact academic and career interests, particularly in the field of STEM.”

September 24, 2020