InternLA, Oxy’s annual paid internship program, allows talented Oxy students to gain real-world work experience over the summer with Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations.
This summer, Oxy students interned at 25 different work sites around greater Los Angeles, ranging from the LA Zoo to the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, City of Hope and the Independent Shakespeare Company. Most sites offered a hybrid model that combined onsite and remote work. Students came from diverse academic departments, including Diplomacy & World Affairs, music, psychology, biology and others.
“I was so thrilled to partner with students and employers for InternLA this year,” says Jamila Chambers, executive director of the Hameetman Career Center. “Like many others, the InternLA program had to transition to support the changing landscape of organizations that have a decentralized workplace. Our program has adapted to accommodate that change by offering in-person, hybrid and virtual internships.”
In addition to their internships, the student cohort came to campus weekly for professional development sessions facilitated by internship partners and Oxy leaders, including President Elam. The sessions taught students about the career development process, provided networking events and tours of employer sites. Student interns also lived on campus, creating an added sense of community.
“Reconnecting students and internship sites for this unique experiential learning opportunity is what makes InternLA such a meaningful experience for Oxy students,” Chambers adds.
