3 CSBS Students Recognized for Impactful Internship Work Across Fields

By Cameron Vakilian  

Students from the College of Social and Behavioral Science are being recognized in a meaningful way this year, earning three of the university’s five Internship of the Year awards through the Career Impact Awards from U Career Success. Selected from more than 140 nominations, these students represent a range of disciplines and demonstrate how applied learning translates into real contributions across education, healthcare, and community-based work. 

The Career Impact Awards x Fashion Show will take place on April 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Impact and Prosperity Center. 

Karen Carreno, a Human Development and Family Studies major in the Department of Family & Consumer Studies completed her internship with Granite School District, working alongside a Speech-Language Pathologist to support student evaluations and intervention planning. Through this experience, she gained a deeper understanding of how professionals collaborate to meet students’ developmental and academic needs. Carreno emphasized the importance of cultural awareness in education, noting how critical it is to distinguish between second-language development and language disorders. Her experience strengthened her commitment to advocating for underrepresented students and highlighted the role educators play as both practitioners and advocates. 

 

Kinsley Macurdy, an Anthropology major with a Health emphasis, contributed to a research initiative at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Through her work supporting a clinical study, she gained hands-on experience with patient data and research processes that inform care and decision-making. Macurdy also reflected on the importance of accountability and communication, sharing how an early mistake helped her grow more confident in collaborating with her team. The experience deepened her interest in healthcare research and reinforced the value of attention to detail in clinical settings. 

 

Bailey Ventura, a Sociology and Psychology major, interned with the Community Cooperative Nature School as an Early Childhood Education Intern. In this role, she supported children’s social, emotional, and early academic development through hands-on, nature-based learning. Ventura highlighted how the experience aligned with her goal of becoming a school psychologist, giving her direct insight into early childhood development. Working closely with teachers and families also deepened her understanding of how thoughtful planning and community involvement shape meaningful learning environments. 

These internships reflect the strength of a CSBS education in preparing students to engage with real-world issues in meaningful ways. This combination of academic learning and applied experience positions graduates to enter the workforce ready to make an immediate and lasting impact.  

The College of Social and Behavioral Science congratulates Karen Carreno, Kinsley Macurdy, and Bailey Ventura on this well-deserved recognition! 

Learn more about CSBS Internships!