Fall 2021 Recipients
Anna Alvarez
Japan America Society of Chicago
Anna Alvarez interned at the Japan America Society of Chicago as an assistant events coordinator. The Japan America Society of Chicago is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that allows for communication of ideas and thoughts about U.S.-Japan bilateral relations. In her position, Anna ran the organizations online events such as their 90th-anniversary and holiday party, aiding the smooth transition into online work.
Ariana Amini
Chicago Refugee Coalition
Ariana Amini is a senior at Loyola University Chicago pursuing her Bachelor's in Global Studies and Sociology, along with a minor in Socio-Legal Studies. Originally from Chicago, she is an active member of the Iranian-American community, specifically as a representative of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). With NIAC, she conducts in-district meetings with local representatives on rekindling diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran and supporting Iranian immigrants. Additionally, she writes for the blog Full Potential, which seeks to empower Southwest Asian and North African women worldwide On the Loyola campus, Ariana serves as president of the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association and the Pre-Law Society.
Ariana completed her internship with the Chicago Refugee Coalition. With the Chicago Refugee Coalition, Ariana had been tasked with helping to grow the nonprofit through administrative tasks, refugee-centric research projects, and empowering the local community that the organization serves. This internship position has provided Ariana with a glimpse into how nonprofits operate at the local level and how those decisions affect global issues. This position has strengthened Ariana’s passion for supporting refugees, addressing global issues, and pursuing social justice in innovative ways.
Ashriya Patel
Lincoln Park Zoo
Ashriya Patel is a senior studying biology with an emphasis in ecology at Loyola University Chicago. Throughout her undergraduate career, Ashriya has developed a love for field work, assisting in numerous population surveys throughout the United States. Ashriya continues to seek out lab work centered on zoonotic diseases.
Ashriya’s internship was with the Lincoln Park Zoo in the Urban Wildlife Institute where she completed various field work projects such as mist netting and studies of the migrations of different animals within the Chicagoland area. Ashriya also participated in the Chicago Rat Project where she worked as an educator and field worker spreading awareness about rat diseases.
Carinne Jarvis
Heartland Alliance Majorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture Program
Carinne Jarvis is a senior studying biology and French language and literature at Loyola. Carinne is involved in numerous organizations on campus, such as the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, being a program assistant for the Loyola LCub Sports, the secretary for the Womens’ Lacrosse team, and an organizer of the Dance Marathon.
Carinne interned with the Heartland Alliance Majorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture Program which provides mental health, meicial, and social services for individuals recovering from the consequences of politically sanctioned torutre. Carinne was tasked with assisting the case managers, working with clients, and sometimes translating for clients.
Carolyn Dickey
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault
Carolyn was a marketing intern at the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault. Carolyn worked with MOCSA throughout her highschool career and chose to continue to assist the organization as a college intern. Carolyn is dedicated to assisting those who are victims of sexual assualt and working alongside her collegues to provide support.
Chloe Ryan
Office of IL Senator Tammy Duckworth
Chloe Ryan is a second-year majoring in political science and minoring in global studies and ethics & moral philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. Chloe currently serves on the executive board for Loyola’s Honors Society Association. Over the summer, she worked at a law firm in her hometown as a legal assistant, confirming her passion in law.
Over the fall semester, Chloe completed a sixteen-week internship with the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth. As a legislative intern, Chloe assisted in managing day-to-day office operations such as answering constituent phone calls, sorting pieces of mail and faxes, batching messages, and corresponding with staff members. In addition, Chloe also conducted legislative research and facilitated constituent casework.
Connor Bishop
Reading Is Fundamental
Connor Bishop (he/him) is currently a junior studying political science and environmental policy with a minor in Japanese at Loyola University Chicago. Connor has a passion for environmental sustainability, social justice, and American politics. In the future, he hopes to tie these three passions together into a career focused on achieving a sustainable future for all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation through progressive policies and a diverse movement.
During his Fall 2021 semester, Connor participated in Loyola University Chicago’s Washington D.C. internship program which granted him the opportunity to earn academic credit while interning for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a non-profit based in D.C. that focuses on promoting children’s literacy. With his time at RIF as their Programs and Community Engagement Internship, Connor headed a project on the future of RIF’s volunteer program, crafting a series of proposals he ultimately presented to RIF’s staff at the end of the semester. Alongside the volunteering project, Connor spent the majority of his time working with RIF’s programs team to push children’s literacy forward by tangibly and directly putting books into the hands of young students all across the U.S. via RIF’s Books for Ownership program.
Danielle Soukup
The Safe House Program (WINGS)
Originally from Lisle, Illinois, Danielle Soukup is a senior undergraduate student studying Human Services with minors in Nonprofit Management and Psychology. Through her academics and extracurriculars, she is able to incorporate her passions for leadership and advocacy to develop the communities she surrounds herself in. She doesn't know what her post-graduation plans are just yet but as long as she is with her family and friends the rest will follow.
WINGS is Illinois' largest domestic violence service provider. The Safe House program provides emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence. Interns like Danielle begin in House Advocacy, assisting in operational duties for the shelter to function. Additionally, the interns coordinate with the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline to perform shelter intakes. Then, interns move into Family Advocacy, working directly with clients to accomplish their goals whilst in the program. Interns like Danielle also had opportunties to lead educational talks with the organization and communtiy. Danielle and others provided emotional support to all guests in the house.
Gabrielle Castro
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Compliance Branch
Gabrielle Castro is a senior undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a degree in political science on the pre-law track with minors in philosophy and sociolegal studies. She is the first-born daughter of two immigrant parents and has two younger siblings. Her hometown is Huntley, Illinois. Throughout her time at Loyola, she has fundraised for the Dance Marathon’s Fiscal Committee, volunteered with the LivingWorks Tutoring Program, and is the captain of Loyola’s hip-hop dance team. Further, Gabrielle has experience interning in the offices of State Representative Kelly Cassidy and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. After graduation, she intends to go to law school.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Compliance Branch investigates and resolves allegations made by the public against DHS departments - especially ICE and CBP - regarding civil rights violations. As an intern, Gabrielle analyzed records and reports from the complaints management database and drafted allegation summaries based on her findings. Further, Gabrielle conducted research and examined policies regarding various civil rights issues. Additionally, Gabrielle attended virtual meetings where she assisted her mentors while also gaining experience speaking about civil right’s issues to professionals within the field.
Grace Reilly
Office of IL Senator Tammy Duckworth
Grace Reilly is a junior double majoring in political science and environmental policy. Grace has served on the executive boards of Women in Leadership Loyola, College Democrats, and Inside Government. In the past year, Grace completed the Leibman Political Science Fellowship and Loyola Urban Agriculture Internship.
Over the fall semester, Grace completed an internship with the Chicago office of the U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. Grace’s responsibilities as an intern included answering phone calls and voicemails, processing mail and faxes, and assisting with casework. Connecting with constituents in need and helping them solve federal issues was Grace’s favorite part of the internship.
Johnny Khuu
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Johnny Khuu is a first generation Vietnamese-American who was raised with Catholic beliefs in Uptown, Chicago. Before Uptown transitioned to the popular attraction it is today, it was a neighborhood with a very large concentration of poverty and crime. Consequently, the neighborhood became a large focus for many professionals of the criminal justice system. Johnny’s experiences with these individuals growing up led him to have nothing but admiration for the case workers. Johnny desires to obtain his Jurisprudence Degree and apply it to the criminal justice system.
Johnny’s internship in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois was quite exhilarating for Johnny as he had been given a lead role on a major project concerning the Judicial Privacy Act. His responsibilities within the Judicial Privacy Act project includes overseeing correspondences, conducting and coordinating online research, updating research documents, records management, and data manipulation. The internship was great exposure to the federal court system as he worked with librarians of the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Marshals, Federal Judges, and the Clerk of Court.
Riya Chaudhary
Office of Chicago Alderman James Cappleman
Riya Chaudhary interned with Alderman James Cappleman’s office in the 46th ward of the city of Chicago. The purpose of the internship is to give young adults professional experience within the government. Riya’s personal project was to work with Heartland Alliance on a winter food drive for unhoused people in the city. In addition to the end project, Riya also attended meetings in City Hall, organized events for the community, and conducted research about various topics related to the city.
Anna Alvarez
Japan America Society of Chicago
Anna Alvarez interned at the Japan America Society of Chicago as an assistant events coordinator. The Japan America Society of Chicago is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that allows for communication of ideas and thoughts about U.S.-Japan bilateral relations. In her position, Anna ran the organizations online events such as their 90th-anniversary and holiday party, aiding the smooth transition into online work.
Ariana Amini
Chicago Refugee Coalition
Ariana Amini is a senior at Loyola University Chicago pursuing her Bachelor's in Global Studies and Sociology, along with a minor in Socio-Legal Studies. Originally from Chicago, she is an active member of the Iranian-American community, specifically as a representative of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). With NIAC, she conducts in-district meetings with local representatives on rekindling diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran and supporting Iranian immigrants. Additionally, she writes for the blog Full Potential, which seeks to empower Southwest Asian and North African women worldwide On the Loyola campus, Ariana serves as president of the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association and the Pre-Law Society.
Ariana completed her internship with the Chicago Refugee Coalition. With the Chicago Refugee Coalition, Ariana had been tasked with helping to grow the nonprofit through administrative tasks, refugee-centric research projects, and empowering the local community that the organization serves. This internship position has provided Ariana with a glimpse into how nonprofits operate at the local level and how those decisions affect global issues. This position has strengthened Ariana’s passion for supporting refugees, addressing global issues, and pursuing social justice in innovative ways.
Ashriya Patel
Lincoln Park Zoo
Ashriya Patel is a senior studying biology with an emphasis in ecology at Loyola University Chicago. Throughout her undergraduate career, Ashriya has developed a love for field work, assisting in numerous population surveys throughout the United States. Ashriya continues to seek out lab work centered on zoonotic diseases.
Ashriya’s internship was with the Lincoln Park Zoo in the Urban Wildlife Institute where she completed various field work projects such as mist netting and studies of the migrations of different animals within the Chicagoland area. Ashriya also participated in the Chicago Rat Project where she worked as an educator and field worker spreading awareness about rat diseases.
Carinne Jarvis
Heartland Alliance Majorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture Program
Carinne Jarvis is a senior studying biology and French language and literature at Loyola. Carinne is involved in numerous organizations on campus, such as the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, being a program assistant for the Loyola LCub Sports, the secretary for the Womens’ Lacrosse team, and an organizer of the Dance Marathon.
Carinne interned with the Heartland Alliance Majorie Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture Program which provides mental health, meicial, and social services for individuals recovering from the consequences of politically sanctioned torutre. Carinne was tasked with assisting the case managers, working with clients, and sometimes translating for clients.
Carolyn Dickey
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault
Carolyn was a marketing intern at the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault. Carolyn worked with MOCSA throughout her highschool career and chose to continue to assist the organization as a college intern. Carolyn is dedicated to assisting those who are victims of sexual assualt and working alongside her collegues to provide support.
Chloe Ryan
Office of IL Senator Tammy Duckworth
Chloe Ryan is a second-year majoring in political science and minoring in global studies and ethics & moral philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. Chloe currently serves on the executive board for Loyola’s Honors Society Association. Over the summer, she worked at a law firm in her hometown as a legal assistant, confirming her passion in law.
Over the fall semester, Chloe completed a sixteen-week internship with the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth. As a legislative intern, Chloe assisted in managing day-to-day office operations such as answering constituent phone calls, sorting pieces of mail and faxes, batching messages, and corresponding with staff members. In addition, Chloe also conducted legislative research and facilitated constituent casework.
Connor Bishop
Reading Is Fundamental
Connor Bishop (he/him) is currently a junior studying political science and environmental policy with a minor in Japanese at Loyola University Chicago. Connor has a passion for environmental sustainability, social justice, and American politics. In the future, he hopes to tie these three passions together into a career focused on achieving a sustainable future for all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation through progressive policies and a diverse movement.
During his Fall 2021 semester, Connor participated in Loyola University Chicago’s Washington D.C. internship program which granted him the opportunity to earn academic credit while interning for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a non-profit based in D.C. that focuses on promoting children’s literacy. With his time at RIF as their Programs and Community Engagement Internship, Connor headed a project on the future of RIF’s volunteer program, crafting a series of proposals he ultimately presented to RIF’s staff at the end of the semester. Alongside the volunteering project, Connor spent the majority of his time working with RIF’s programs team to push children’s literacy forward by tangibly and directly putting books into the hands of young students all across the U.S. via RIF’s Books for Ownership program.
Danielle Soukup
The Safe House Program (WINGS)
Originally from Lisle, Illinois, Danielle Soukup is a senior undergraduate student studying Human Services with minors in Nonprofit Management and Psychology. Through her academics and extracurriculars, she is able to incorporate her passions for leadership and advocacy to develop the communities she surrounds herself in. She doesn't know what her post-graduation plans are just yet but as long as she is with her family and friends the rest will follow.
WINGS is Illinois' largest domestic violence service provider. The Safe House program provides emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence. Interns like Danielle begin in House Advocacy, assisting in operational duties for the shelter to function. Additionally, the interns coordinate with the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline to perform shelter intakes. Then, interns move into Family Advocacy, working directly with clients to accomplish their goals whilst in the program. Interns like Danielle also had opportunties to lead educational talks with the organization and communtiy. Danielle and others provided emotional support to all guests in the house.
Gabrielle Castro
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Compliance Branch
Gabrielle Castro is a senior undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a degree in political science on the pre-law track with minors in philosophy and sociolegal studies. She is the first-born daughter of two immigrant parents and has two younger siblings. Her hometown is Huntley, Illinois. Throughout her time at Loyola, she has fundraised for the Dance Marathon’s Fiscal Committee, volunteered with the LivingWorks Tutoring Program, and is the captain of Loyola’s hip-hop dance team. Further, Gabrielle has experience interning in the offices of State Representative Kelly Cassidy and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. After graduation, she intends to go to law school.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Compliance Branch investigates and resolves allegations made by the public against DHS departments - especially ICE and CBP - regarding civil rights violations. As an intern, Gabrielle analyzed records and reports from the complaints management database and drafted allegation summaries based on her findings. Further, Gabrielle conducted research and examined policies regarding various civil rights issues. Additionally, Gabrielle attended virtual meetings where she assisted her mentors while also gaining experience speaking about civil right’s issues to professionals within the field.
Grace Reilly
Office of IL Senator Tammy Duckworth
Grace Reilly is a junior double majoring in political science and environmental policy. Grace has served on the executive boards of Women in Leadership Loyola, College Democrats, and Inside Government. In the past year, Grace completed the Leibman Political Science Fellowship and Loyola Urban Agriculture Internship.
Over the fall semester, Grace completed an internship with the Chicago office of the U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. Grace’s responsibilities as an intern included answering phone calls and voicemails, processing mail and faxes, and assisting with casework. Connecting with constituents in need and helping them solve federal issues was Grace’s favorite part of the internship.
Johnny Khuu
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Johnny Khuu is a first generation Vietnamese-American who was raised with Catholic beliefs in Uptown, Chicago. Before Uptown transitioned to the popular attraction it is today, it was a neighborhood with a very large concentration of poverty and crime. Consequently, the neighborhood became a large focus for many professionals of the criminal justice system. Johnny’s experiences with these individuals growing up led him to have nothing but admiration for the case workers. Johnny desires to obtain his Jurisprudence Degree and apply it to the criminal justice system.
Johnny’s internship in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois was quite exhilarating for Johnny as he had been given a lead role on a major project concerning the Judicial Privacy Act. His responsibilities within the Judicial Privacy Act project includes overseeing correspondences, conducting and coordinating online research, updating research documents, records management, and data manipulation. The internship was great exposure to the federal court system as he worked with librarians of the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Marshals, Federal Judges, and the Clerk of Court.
Riya Chaudhary
Office of Chicago Alderman James Cappleman
Riya Chaudhary interned with Alderman James Cappleman’s office in the 46th ward of the city of Chicago. The purpose of the internship is to give young adults professional experience within the government. Riya’s personal project was to work with Heartland Alliance on a winter food drive for unhoused people in the city. In addition to the end project, Riya also attended meetings in City Hall, organized events for the community, and conducted research about various topics related to the city.