EASL Program Gears Up For a New Year

Dr. Edward Queen Welcomes the Group

The Ethics and Servant Leadership summer internship program is kicking off its thirteenth summer. The program provides thirty Emory students the opportunity to intern at non-profit organizations and governmental agencies around Atlanta. Students meet for weekly discussions, lectures, and presentations. They will also write reflections about their experiences. Fikrejesus Amahazion and Mariangela Jordan are this year’s graduate assistants. The program is led by Director Dr. Edward Queen and Assistant Director Carlton Mackey.

Sabrina Bernstein

This is Fikrejesus’s first year of involvement in the Ethics and Servant Leadership Program. He is amazed at the breadth of opportunities available to the students. He said, “if you have a passion to help others, you can in this program.” He also believes that this program is a vehicle for the student’s future. As a graduate student in Sociology with a focus on human rights, he plans to gain relevant experience and skills this summer that will relate directly to his plans for the future. 

Mariangela Jordan is an EASL veteran. She has participated in the EASL Forum and the EASL Summer Internship program and believes her work as a graduate assistant this summer will be a perfect culmination of her previous experiences. Her work with EASL brought her to the IRC (International Rescue Committee) and she continued working with the IRC after completing the EASL program. Jordan recently received the McMullan Award, which she credits to her involvement with the Center for Ethics. The award is given to a graduating senior who exhibits "outstanding citizenship, exceptional leadership and rare potential for service to his or her community, the nation and the world.” She has high hopes for this year’s interns. She said, “some of these students will find their passion and future jobs through this program.”

Carlton Mackey shared his thoughts about this year’s interns by describing the opening reception. “What struck me the most,” he said, “is that for every intern, there were ten other people who wanted that seat.” It was exciting for him to meet students for the first time who, during the selection process, were defined by their applications. As the Director of the Ethics & the Arts Initiative, Mackey finds it gratifying to see another round of interns participating in the arts internships. This year will certainly stand out. “I’m looking forward to the fact that every group is different and each one presents new opportunities,” Mackey said.

Dr. Edward Queen remarked on the fact that this year’s students are fascinating. “In a distinct way,” he said, “each group brings tremendous experiences and sets of interests.” This year also brings the addition of new options for internships. These new opportunities include internships with the High Museum, a new unit at the CDC, the Georgia Chapter of the National Wildlife Federation, and due to a grant from the Belk Foundation the YWCA and the Junior League. With the innovative contributions of this year’s interns and the organizational additions, Dr. Queen said he is, “looking forward to a very successful summer.” 

EASL Interns Meet and Greet

photos courtesy of Mariangela Jordan