Center for Ethics Hosts Three Emory University Summer College Program Interns

While most students may plan on spending the entirety of their summer break at the local pool or beach, vacationing, studying abroad, I plan on utilizing these next 10 weeks in a more significant manner. Six other students from a variety of universities across the United States and I were fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to participate in Emory’s Sixth Annual Summer College Intern Program from June 4-August 10. This program offers students and departments an exchange of service, training, and valuable work experience. With majors ranging from Political Science to Film, these distinguished scholars, who I am fortunate to be among, show great potential to develop and enhance the resources and opportunities for a richer intellectual climate at Emory University.

A majority of my fellow interns are spread across various departments on Emory’s campus. Although this is the first year in which the Center for Ethics has received interns, I have found great encouragement and leadership from their staff.

The Center for Ethics has provided me and as well as two other interns, Ernst Melias and Z. Khalilah Waajid, endless possibilities to create, contribute, and collaborate to their continuous dedication of “exploring how ethical issues underlie the decisions that shape our minds, lives, and society.”

           

Melias installing MetaTags Module for the HCECG website  

A rising junior at the University of Georgia, Ernst Melias is pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science with the hopes of attending graduate school. In talking to Melias, he shared his enthusiasm about becoming a part of the Center for Ethics team.

           

“I want to contribute the skills and knowledge that I have acquired for the past 3 years and help in whatever way that I can,” explains Melias. “With this internship I hope to further my expertise in computer science.”

           

Using his technological skills, Melias will help improve and maintain the Health Care Ethics Consortium of Georgia (HCECG) website, assist in the maintenance of the Center for Ethics website, and provide general IT assistance.

           

Waajid experimenting with the camera for upcoming projects

Khalilah Waajid is a Film major who just completed her junior year at Georgia State University. Among the major tasks she hopes to accomplish, include creating a commercial for the Ethics and Service Leadership (EASL) Program, producing an informational video about the Center for Ethics, as well as assisting in the production of a film based on footage from “Testaments of the Heart.”           

           

“I would like to add to the creative presence within the Center for Ethics while bringing in my own sense of ingenuity,” describes Waajid. “I hope to further develop my skill set as well as opening myself to new experiences.”

           

Ramirez developing topic ideas for the Center for Ethics Blog

As a Digital and Broadcast Journalism major attending the University of Georgia, I am eager to work alongside these two individuals to help promote the voice and efforts of the Center for Ethics. In the few days that I have been here, it is clear that this is an environment in which creativity and individuality is encouraged, an aspect of this program that we as interns value. 

           

Under the guidance of the Center’s director, Dr. Paul Root Wolpe, Ethics and the Arts Director, Carlton Mackey, Marketing and Communications Manager, Tanya Anderson Woodward, and the rest of the Center’s staff, we anticipate a summer of growth through collaboration and first-hand experiences.   

Photos by Khalilah Waajid and Mariangela Jorday