| by Nadia Pshonyak

News Stories

This semester almost sixty Middlebury Institute students are participating in our distinguished semester-long experiential learning and practicum courses. Students are working around the globe with organizations making a positive impact in various fields while continuing their studies here at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Amber Morgan in Vienna
Amber Morgan (NPTS) interned at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna

Our practicum and internship students are working with organizations as close as Monterey, California, and as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii in organizations ranging from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to Uplift Northwest. We also have several students working abroad in France, Indonesia, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam at places like the International Organization for Migration and as Boren Fellows.

Students in our translation practicum are gaining real life skills while broadening their education and serving others through these partnerships.

The following courses provide students with applied, hands-on learning that connects their academic training with their professional fields of interest. 

Xinyi Chen with IRC in Seattle
Xinyi Chen (IPD) interning at the Seattle office of the International Rescue Committee, shown here with her colleagues 

The Professional Service Semester

The Professional Service Semester (PSS) is an experience designed for students in the Environmental Policy and Management and Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies programs. The PSS experience allows students to apply skills and knowledge gained through their prior coursework in a professional setting. These experiential learning courses serve as stepping stones to their future careers. 

Name Organization Location
Libby Mohn NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Monterey, CA
Lily Edelman-Gold California Energy Commission Monterey, CA
Eleanor Bent  Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition (CRHS) Monterey, CA
Hannah Ditty Foundations of Success  Washington D.C.
John Ciarico Independent Research Project New York, NY
Garrett Hambaro KUPU Honolulu, HI
Sherlin Benjamin California FarmLink Aptos, CA
Noemi Cerritos Gatto African Wildlife Foundation Washington D.C.
Diego Tabilo Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) Monterey, CA
Maya Hoffman Collaborative for Right Relations Monterey, CA
Gabe Albright BOREN Fellowship Taipei, Taiwan
Benit Mbiakolo City of Monterey Monterey, CA
Leo Eckel Istituto Affari Internazionali Rome, Italy

International Education Management and Joint MPA/International Education Management Practicum

The International Education Management (IEM) and joint MPA/International Education Management practicum is focused on gaining practical experience and advanced management skills for students entering the career of international education. 

Name Organization Location
Jordyn Dezago Monterey County Rape and Crisis Center Monterey, CA
Margaret Reagan International Sustainable Development Studies Institute Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ellie Hoffman Middlebury Schools Abroad France Paris, France
Tyson Takeuchi Linfield University International Programs Office McMinnville, OR
Caitlin Jamison with the State Dept
Caitlin Jamison (NPTS) with her State-START project team after presenting to the Bureau of Counterterrorism. 

International Policy and Development, Public Administration, and International Trade Practicum 

Starting in May 2023, the Master in Public Administration (MPA), MA in International Policy and Development (IPD), and MA in International Trade (ITED) degrees combined all practicum course options within one course. Students can select to complete a work project for an organization where they are completing a job or internship, a client project for a partner organization, or independent academic research that is published in an academic journal or self-published through Middlebury digital platforms. 

Below is a list of current participants for both programs, their organizations, and their locations: 

Name Organization Location
Adiba Juya Education for Employment Washington D.C. / Remote
Elizabeth Hammond                   CASA of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA
Jeanette Burke Monterey Audubon Society Monterey, CA
Jeff Williams Independent Journalistic Research in Southeast Asia Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Jonathan Phan PHANBI Monterey, CA
Kathleen Rabe Independent Research Dixon, CA / France
Kimberly Mendez Lemus Department of Homeland Security Baltimore, MD
Landry Dohou Bi PHANBI Monterey, CA
Marion Ayer International Organization for Migration  Indonesia
Marisa Jones Independent Research Hanoi, Vietnam / Chiang Rai, Thailand
Phoebe Jones Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism Washington D.C.
Rebecca Richey with Performing Arts Abroad
Rebecca Richey (IEM) with her colleagues at the Performing Arts Abroad (PAA) office

Translation and Localization Management Practicum

The Translation and Localization Management (TLM) program offers hands-on experience through Localization practicum, which is a core class both in the fall and the spring semesters for second-year students. The spring TLM Practicum is led by Professor Martins, is designed for people who prefer to work on existing student-run projects, such as the student-led magazine, podcast, mentorship program, school outreach, etc., or create and run their own special project. Students can also design and complete their own localization-related research project, participate in an internship in a real-world company, or work for a nonprofit organization such as Women in Localization or The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA). The projects and internships all have a learning component, and students are expected to share their experiences with each other to foster knowledge sharing.

Below is a list of current projects for Localization Practicum:

Name (s) Organization
Lea Bruzzo, Man-Yi Ma Localization Voices
Hannah Epstein Tierra Luna
Stephanie Lu TILM Mentorship Program
Lesley Chang, Huiyu Chen, Xiaohui Hu, Min-Hai Kim Women in Localization
Jiayi Zhai All See Robotics
Maddy Sanchez, Lindsay Vail Loc Ready
Xiaoyu Cai, Jing Min, Shuyun Xiao, Albert Zhu Translators for Elders
Xiaoyan Chen Translators for Elders
Da Sun Mother Tongue

 

TESOL and Teaching Foreign Language Practicum 

TESOL and Teaching Foreign Language (TFL) students are combining reflective practice and professional development in preparation for careers in language education.

Below is a list of current participants for both programs and their projects:

Name Project
Kari Naumova Middlebury College Russian Program, Middlebury, VT
Allie Campbell  Hyalite Elementary School, Bozeman, MT
Lori Zink Monterey Adult School, Monterey, CA
Andreas Schrier at the Mammal Marine Center
Andreas Schrier (EPM) teaching a class on the importance of protecting marine mammals for the Marine Mammal Center.

For More Information

The Experiential Learning Team at MIIS
ExperientialLearning@middlebury.edu
831-647-6417