In its ninth year, The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program welcomed the 2024 cohort of interns this June and July. These students are embedded within departments for approximately 10 weeks and work closely with foundation staff to gain a fuller picture of what it is like to work as philanthropy grantmakers or as operational team members.

As the interns, who range from high school to graduate students, wrap up their time at Kresge, they shared more about their motivations, what they’ve learned and where they hope to go.

Q: What inspired you to become interested in your field of study?

“After moving to Detroit and traveling to other cities for work, I noticed differences between Detroit and other cities, and between where I stayed in Detroit versus other neighborhoods. I became more aware of the reality that where you live impacts the opportunities you have. It started to bother me that there could be such stark contrasts both across and within cities. I began to pay more attention to the change happening within Detroit and how it was or wasn’t creating opportunity for people who live here. After five years in the business world, I decided to pursue a dual degree in business and urban planning to learn about building more equitable local economies for Detroit and other cities around the country and world.” — Nathan Fisher, American Cities Program intern, dual urban & regional planning and business administration graduate student at the University of Michigan

“My interest in economics was solidified during a fundamentals course I took at UChicago. I joined a few clubs and organizations on campus around business and finance and really enjoyed applying and expanding this knowledge. It’s really a field where I can merge all these different aspects of my curiosity. As for data science, it’s everywhere, and it’s fascinating. It can be utilized in so many different ways to drive meaningful change. It’s been great to dive deeper into these two fields, combining these two interests of mine, and I look forward to continuing to do that throughout my academic and future professional career.” – Joseph Pino, Investments intern, economics and data science undergraduate student at The University of Chicago

Q: What do you hope that the next 100 years brings for The Kresge Foundation?

“I hope that The Kresge Foundation continues to be courageous in its funding and advocacy. To push the envelope where others are too timid or restricted by existing structures. To take everyone on the journey toward an even better future. To continue to uplift those who hold the deepest knowledge of the place in which they live. And to work on those issues that are stalled by partisan squabbles but essential for humanity to survive and thrive in our home. Be nimble in adapting to change. We can’t know what the next big challenge may be, but we can change with the change.” – Clara Graucob, Environment Program intern, dual Fisheries & Wildlife and Environmental Science & Policy Ph.D candidate at Michigan State University

Q: What is one piece of advice or experience that you’re going to take from your time at Kresge to apply to the rest of your education or career?

“During a conversation, I had the chance to get to know one of my senior colleagues on a deeper level. We shared backstories, got to know a little more about one another’s journey, and I was given several pieces of advice. One piece in particular that I’m extremely thankful for and going to take to apply to the rest of my career was that it’s less about the specific, and more about knowing myself and my values. I’ll carry this information with me for the rest of my life because it’s applicable in many areas, whether choosing careers, entering different environments, or cultivating new relationships. Through understanding myself and my personal values I can ensure that I’ll be exactly where I’m meant to be.” – Billy Daal, Investments intern, political science undergraduate student at Yale University

“One piece of advice that I have heard from many staff members at Kresge is to ‘be open.’ As a graduate student, I often feel pressured to have everything figured out when people ask me what is next after graduating. The staff at Kresge has affirmed my commitment to remaining open to opportunities across sectors and topic areas. Seeing the breadth of experiences and knowledge that the staff at Kresge possess has inspired me to continue learning and exploring as much as I can.” – Julie Plawker, Health Program intern, public health graduate student at the University of Michigan

Q: What do you want the world to know about your field of study and/or your experience at Kresge this summer?

“The word that best describes my experience this summer is alignment. Given my professional experience and research in college admissions, I have felt incredibly affirmed about my thought leadership during my time at Kresge. I have met with several Education team grantees who already knew about my research on trauma narratives in college admissions essays or were people themselves already in my network. I have also learned so much about the organizations, institutions and groups all over the country working to support equity in higher education or combat the growing anti-DEI sentiment and legislation. Despite a challenging political moment, I am encouraged by the advocacy, awareness, coalition-building and research led and conducted by Kresge grantees.” – Aya Waller-Bey, Education Program intern, sociology Ph.D student at the University of Michigan

Q: What motivates you?

“One of my greatest motivations is to ensure I leave a positive impact on my community. My drive to succeed stems from my parents immigrating to the U.S. from Lebanon as I have witnessed the hard work, resilience and sacrifices that go into starting from scratch. This has instilled in me a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunities I have been given. I am committed not only to excelling in my work, but also advocating for marginalized groups and expanding their access to opportunities.” – Dina Younes, Investments intern, undergraduate finance student at Michigan State University