In 1994, the Mertie W. Buckman International Internship Program was initiated at Rhodes College by a generous gift from the Buckman family to provide outstanding sophomores and juniors, who are majoring in international studies majors at Rhodes, opportunities to work outside the United States during the summer months. This program is coordinated by staff from the Department of International Studies, Career Services, and the Buckman Center for International Education.
Six Mertie Buckman International Studies Interns have been selected to travel abroad and intern in a country of their choosing this summer. They are:
Bella Harden ’20 (Brussels, Belgium)
“I’ll be working with the German Marshall Fund as part of the alliance for securing democracy, with focus on Russian interference studies and women in global politics. I hope to get a look into the field of international relations and the kind of work a think tank does.”
Austin Schmude ’20 (Tianjin, China)
“I’ll be interning with Daote Management Consulting Company. This internship will prepare me for a career after graduation with practical work experience and improved Chinese language abilities. This program also will foster my academic development by encouraging understanding of multiple cultural perspectives.”
Alex Schramkowski ’20 (Cape Town, South Africa)
“I hope to work at a law firm or international relations organization in South Africa. The best part about going abroad is seeing where cultures from across the world converge and diverge. My mission in going abroad is to see how the areas of study I’m passionate about— law and international relations—differ from the United States in other countries. I hope to gain quality, practical experience while meeting new people and having new experiences.”
Hamid Shirwany ’19 (Rabat, Morocco)
“I hope to complete an internship that combines health care and refugee work and am waiting on details about working at a foundation that combats HIV/AIDS and works with women and children with the goal of reducing the infant mortality rate. I truly believe that this summer has the potential to be a life-changing experience . . . And considering that English is not the predominant language in Morocco, I hope to learn some French and Arabic this summer as well.”
Zach Thornton ’19 (Mumbai, India)
“I hope to work with some type of non-profit or NGO that works in the healthcare field, specifically providing resources to underserved populations. As a Buckman Intern, I will be able to gain a deeper appreciation for other cultures while also honing skills I’ve learned at Rhodes, taking them to a global scale.”
Ben Tracy ’19 (São Paulo, Brazil)
“I hope to work in a think tank or policy research and use my knowledge of Portuguese to excel in a work environment. I am passionate about studying Brazil, and I hope to gain a better understanding of the work environment in the country. Thank you to Rhodes and the Buckman family for this amazing opportunity!