The Karen Kirchof Internship Fund has helped many Nicholas School students gain summer internships to prepare them for careers in the environmental field. Kirchof, who passed away in 2019, influenced the careers of thousands of Nicholas School students during her 27 years as assistant dean and director of the school’s Career and Professional Development Center.
Hear more below from two recent Kirchof Internship Fund recipients on how their summer experiences gave them the tools and expertise they need to become environmental leaders.
Dear Karen Kirchof Internship Fund Supporters,
Thank you so much for your generosity in helping support the Nicholas School’s summer experiences! This summer, CPDC funding allowed me to accept a position at the Charles River Watershed Association as a Restoration Science and Engagement intern in Boston, Massachusetts. In this role, I managed the Culvert Assessments program, assessing almost 100 culverts across the 300-square-mile Charles River watershed with the help of volunteers and CRWA staff. Additionally, I attended multiple community events to gauge community interest in an early-stage restoration project that CRWA is working on in partnership with local city councilors and Mass Audubon. Working at CRWA this summer allowed me to get practical GIS experience, including contributing to a watershed restoration plan for dam removal and culvert replacement. I loved getting the opportunity to work for a local non-profit organization and learn about the restoration process through seeing projects at all of the different stages.
Thank you again for your contributions to the summer experience funds that allowed me to have such a meaningful internship with the Charles River Watershed Association before returning to Duke for my second year!
Sincerely,
Samantha Jensen
Dear Karen Kirchof Internship Fund Supporters,
I am writing to express my deep gratitude for your financial support of my summer experience. This summer, I completed a Corporate Sustainability Internship for a sustainability consulting firm, Lean Green Way, leading projects within the data center industry. As I’m using my time in grad school to make a career pivot to corporate sustainability, this internship was invaluable in giving me the experience and exposure I needed to sharpen my strategic and analytical skills. I worked on projects related to marketing, environmental compliance, disclosures, and operations, and a variety of environmental topics from waste, water, carbon, and land conservation. Furthermore, I had access to great mentorship and experts in the field that regularly shared their knowledge and wisdom, all of which I will take with me in my future endeavors.
Just recently, I was flown out to Santa Barbara for an in-person meetup where I got to present my project on a cost-savings analysis to the team. This was an amazing opportunity to wrap up the internship and to finally meet everyone face-to-face. Below you will find a photo of me and the two other interns at the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
I want to wholeheartedly thank you for your support. Without it, this internship would not have been possible. Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Lalie Marie
